Dumfries and Galloway Council has invested £2.66 million in a fleet of 12 new low-emission buses to safeguard vital transport links between communities in the west of the region.
The buses, which will run on public and school transport routes from 7 August, have been introduced to support more reliable journeys and improved passenger comfort, while helping to deliver cleaner air for local communities.
Fares on routes operated by the council’s bus service provider DGC Buses – and across the region’s bus network – have been frozen to protect residents’ access to essential services, employment and leisure activities.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s investment – funded through capital borrowing as well as the council’s Capital Transport Asset Class – will see 13 staff transferred from Stagecoach West Scotland and seven additional members of staff joining DGC Buses.
The immediate purchase of 12 additional buses boosts DGC Buses’ fleet of vehicles to 77, making it one of the largest council-operated bus fleets in Scotland.
In addition, the council’s previously announced £3.4 million investment – via the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund – will deliver nine zero-emission electric buses serving routes across the region from spring 2026.
The news follows the recent completion of a rigorous procurement process conducted by Dumfries and Galloway Council in partnership with SWestrans.
In late June, 45 long-term contracts were awarded to trusted local operators, forming the backbone of the region’s subsidised bus network. Where no affordable bids were submitted, or where operators were unable to take on commercially run routes, DGC Buses has now stepped in as the operator of last resort to ensure that as many vital transport links as possible can be retained.
And regional transport partnership SWestrans has paid tribute to the efforts of local bus operators to scale up their operations over the past few weeks, following the withdrawal of the main commercial operator – Stagecoach West Scotland – from the region.
Cllr John Campbell, Chair of regional transport partnership SWestrans, welcomed the news:
“It’s very positive news that DGC Buses is expanding to retain services in the region. I also want to thank our trusted local operators who worked tirelessly in recent weeks, going above and beyond to help deliver the new bus network by 7 August.
“Their dedication – and the strong partnership they have with SWestrans and DGC Buses – has been instrumental in ensuring communities continue to have access to essential public transport services.
“The new subsidised bus network is built on longer-term contracts, providing greater certainty for operators and encouraging future investment in vehicles and service quality. I look forward to further enhancements to services in the future as SWestrans and bus operators continue to work together to make ticketing more accessible and using the bus simpler.”
Cllr Stephen Thompson, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said:
“We’re grateful for the patience shown by residents as we work to deliver the best possible bus network for the region, which will launch on 7 August.
“The withdrawal of the main operator from the procurement process run by the council in partnership with SWestrans posed a significant and unexpected challenge, particularly given the scale and complexity of delivering services across such a geographically diverse and rural region.
“The additional £2.66 million investment in new buses will further protect bus services and ensure that essential links between communities are retained.
“This, added to the £3.4 million already being invested by our council through the Levelling Up Fund, marks a significant investment in our bus network to support growth and development across the region.”
He added: “I want to commend our local commercial operators: Anderson’s of Langholm; Brownrigg’s Coaches; Houston’s Coaches; McCalls Coaches and Telford’s Coaches. Their commitment and co-operation have been essential to deliver this outcome and build the foundations of a more stable and sustainable bus network.”
Residents are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance to ensure a smooth transition to the new network. Residents should check timetables prior to the launch on 7 August. These are available online from https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/timetables.
For those without internet access, information will shortly be available via Traveline Scotland on 0141 465 1878. In the meantime, the council’s contact centre can help on 030 33 33 3000. Paper copies of timetables are available to view at local libraries and contact centres.
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