Research released last month has shown that in 2021, 74 per cent of people in Dumfries and Galloway did not agree that bus fares were good value for money – the worst figure in Scotland.

At the same time, Stagecoach West fares have risen by 15 per cent this year- the biggest increase in the country.

The annual Scottish Transport Statistics have shown bus passenger numbers in local authorities across the south of Scotland are struggling to recover from the pandemic, with the number of passenger journeys being taken in South West and Strathclyde still 35 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

This follows years of long-term decline under the SNP, which has seen bus passenger numbers in this region have dropped by a staggering 58 per cent.

Colin Smyth has warned that buses in Scotland are “on the brink of collapse”.

Colin Smyth said: “The figures showing how dissatisfied people in Dumfries and Galloway are with their buses are shocking – but will come as no surprise.

“Our region is a predominantly rural area and bus services have repeatedly been cut, while fares continue to rise, leaving local people left with no public transport options.“We urgently need to cap fares and take action to protect services, which is why Scottish Labour raised the issue in the Parliament – but the SNP and the Greens refuse to listen.

“We need to act now to end years of decline and prevent our bus networks being decimated.

“It is four years since I lodged amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill to lift the ban on council-run bus services, yet this Government has still not passed on to councils the powers that I secured, never mind given them the resources that they need to set up their own publicly and community-owned bus services.”

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