Scotrail dispute cancels Alloa trains

The RMT union have announced a series of train guard strikes in their long running dispute with Scotrail over Driver Only Operations.  The strike has been festering for some months, leading to unofficial action by crews leading to widespread cancellations of services, especially on Sundays.
In the Forth Valley no Alloa to Glasgow services have run on the past three Sundays, and Scotrail have already withdrawn all Alloa services this coming Sunday again.
Then official industrial action will afffect journeys on Tuesday 21st,Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th June, and the following four Sundays (including the last day of The Open Golf at Troon). Whilst Scotrail hope to run some services, notably Glasgow-Aberdeen, Glasgow -Edinburgh & Dunblane-Edinburgh, there will be no local Glasgow-Stirling/Alloa/Dunblane services, or Falkirk Grahamston- Anniesland services.
On top of all that, engineering work will mean no Alloa-Stirling trains for 8 days btween July 17th-24th.

Now Stagecoach weild the axe

Following on from First's high profile proposed cuts in Bus services across the Forth Valley, East Lothian and The Borders, Stagecoach have also released details of plans to cut services across Fife and Clackmannanshire.
It is proposed that the current Service 8 (Dunfermline-Stirling) will only operate between Dunfermline- Culross. This will leave no links between Kincardine & Valleyfield, Alloa or Stirling.
They also intend to cancel Service 6, the main service service Saline & Steelend.
Service 23 (Stirling-St Andrews) wil be reduced to just 4 return journeys a day, from the current 6.
On a more positive note, Stagecoach want to extend the X24 Glasgow Express to Glasgow Airport, giving an hourly service from Dunfermline & KIncardine.
They are just proposals at present, and the bus operator is talking with Fife Council regarding ways to cover some of the gaps.
Full details here 

Forth Valley hit hard by Scotrail staff crisis

Alloa-Glasgow were wiped out today as Scotrail cancelled in the region of 100 services due to staff shortages. A number of Dunblane/Stirling to Edinburgh and Dundee-Glasgow services were also cancelled. Scotrail had similar issues last year, and has since recruited 100 new drivers, yet are still having to cancel services on a widespread scale.

First slash services across East Central Scotland

First have announced plans to slash services across their South East & Central Scotland division.
The group were recently released from undertakings placed on the company 14 years ago when they aquired Stathclyde Buses following an investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
Amongst the cuts announced this week are a complete withdrawel from East Lothian, and cuts to services across the Forth Valley and Borders areas, although no cuts are planned for West Lothian.
Midland Bluebird cuts include complete withdrawel of Service 60 (Clackmannan-Stirling-Stenhousemuir), and Services 24 & X86 from Stirling and Falkirk to Kilsyth, and reduced timetables & rerouting of other services  in the Alloa & Hillfoots (62/63) and West Stirlingshire (C11/12) areas.
First stress that their plans are purely consultative at present, hoping that local authorities will step in to subsidise the routes,  But the changes will be effected from August 15th.
Falkirk Council are also undertaking a retendering of their services, so further changes will be forthcoming there.

New One way system shifts buses

A new one way system in Stirling Town Centre is effective from Sunday, affecting Station Road and Murray Place. As a result bus services will serve new stops on Gooscroft Road instead of Murray Place after leaving the bus station. Journeys toward Stirling Bus Station will use new Murray Place stops.

Forth Bridge traffic shifts west

The Forth crossings at Kincardine, and even Stirling, will have to take the extra traffic from the month long closure of the Forth Road Bridge. Extra buses from Fife to Edinburgh will be given priority along the A985 Longannet-Cairneyhill stretch, and across Kincardine Bridge, whilst extra trains arranged, are at the expense of Falkirk Grahamston - Glasgow trains and two daily Dundee-Glasgow services, which will be withdrawn,
Cars from Fife will be diverted via A907 (Oakley) westbound) and B913 (Solsgirth/Saline) eastbound, or A823 (Powmill).

Changes to first services in Wee County

First are making changes to their Clackmannanshire services 60,62 & 63 from Monday 30th November. From that date, Service 60 from Clackmannan -Stirling will have timetable changes, but the main change is the hourly extention to Falkirk, will now operate via Cowie  to Stenhousemuir Shopping Centre after Forth Valley Hospital.  It means that, after the F15 service was withdrawn earlier this year, there is no direct service between Clackmannanshire and Falkirk.
From the same date, the circular 62/63 services between Stirling , Alloa & Hillfoots, will be supplemented by new 62A/63A services between Stirling & Tillicoultry, which will provide a 10 minute frequency during the day along the Hillfoots. New (to the area) buses will be used on the route.