Five-minute town stop sparks rural bus row in Dumfries and Galloway

A rural bus timetable in the Dumfries and Galloway region has drawn sharp criticism for providing rural travellers with just a five-minute window in town before the last bus returns home. The timetable for services between Glentrool and Newton Stewart was introduced by the local council and has left regular travellers scrambling for alternatives on Saturdays and during school holidays, when the first bus reaches Newton Stewart at 11:30 a.m. and the final return bus departs five minutes later at 11:35 a.m., with no other services that day.

Joseph Bowman, who owns Galloway Forest Holiday Park on the outskirts of Glentrool, said the change is unsustainable for a community that relies on public transport. “It’s not good. A lot of older people rely on the bus service so they can get to appointments and do their shopping – it’s their only way of getting around,” he said. “But it’s not just the elderly it’s affecting. We’ve had cancellations… 20 to 25 [people] said they can’t get here now because the bus route has changed.” He noted visitors to the park who used the bus to explore the surrounding area — which is home to Europe’s first International Dark Sky Park — now face higher costs by taking taxis. The village visitor centre, a regular base for stargazers, underscores how the timetable reshapes access in the tourism-heavy area.

Some residents point to broader social consequences. Local observer Andy Smith described a “damaging social impact” on the community, saying the brevity of the town stop makes routine trips nearly impossible. “The harm done to the ability to meet doctor, dental and hospital appointments is a serious consideration, but coupled with the inability to socialise, it is leading to a growing feeling of isolation, loneliness, and concern for the future of rural communities.”

The criticism has come from politics as well. Finlay Carson, the Conservative MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, called the timetable a “farcical situation” with “serious consequences for many in Glentrool who rely on these services.” He urged those involved to “round the table” quickly to find a solution that ensures the community is not cut off from buses.

The change follows Stagecoach’s earlier confirmation that it had taken a “difficult decision” to close two sites in the region. Dumfries and Galloway Council had previously said most services would continue with other operators following a tender process. A joint statement from the council and the transport partnership SWestrans to the BBC said the council stepped in as an “operator of last resort” because the area was at risk of losing all services if it did not act. Officials argued the timetable was implemented in response to low passenger numbers but said they were collecting feedback as they work to “refine the network.” The evolving plan, they emphasized, is meant to preserve a minimum level of service in a sparsely populated region while balancing costs and demand. The shift has intensified scrutiny of rural transport policy across Scotland as communities weigh access against budget constraints and service availability.