Large parts of Scotland are at risk of being “cut off” as the number of bus routes across the country has plummeted since 2006.
Research by Labour found total registered bus routes has dropped by 44 per cent over the last two decades, with more than 1,400 routes lost since then.
Some 190 bus routes were cut within the last year alone – a decrease of 10 per cent.
Scottish Labour criticised the Scottish Government in relation to the figures and said its plans to introduce a franchising model have been delayed by five years.
In 2019 the Scottish Parliament passed legislation giving local authorities the power to set up franchises.
But the Scottish Government said it will not produce the regulations and guidance needed to use these powers until 2025.
Scottish Labour previously criticised the SNP for scrapping some bus funding in its 2025-26 budget and accused ministers of dropping a pledge to invest £500 million in bus infrastructure.
The Record has previously reported how bus services are “too dear and too unreliable” for the Scots most dependent on them to get around.
The Poverty Alliance is urging the SNP Government to support more councils to bring buses back under local control.
Claire Baker, the party’s transport spokeswoman, said: “Lifeline bus routes in Scotland are disappearing by the day on the SNP’s watch, with huge social, economic and environmental consequences.
“People are being robbed of their way to work and communities are at risk of being cut off altogether.
“The SNP has failed to act to reverse the decline, dragging its heels for five years while communities wait for franchising powers.
“It’s time to deliver a change in direction for our bus network and ensure that communities in every corner of the country have the reliable, affordable services they need.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We very much recognise the importance of local bus services to people and communities all over Scotland and want to encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport.
“That is why we intend to increase funding to £465 million to provide free bus travel to over two million people and for bus services in 2025-26.
“We have also created a new bus infrastructure fund and intend to increase investment in bus infrastructure, focusing on bus measures, making buses more attractive for passengers through quicker journeys and for operators to reinvest potential savings to provide further service improvements.
“Ministers are committed to building as broad support as possible across Parliament in order to deliver the forthcoming budget, in order to be able to make these investments which will help maintain local bus services – and engagement with all parties is ongoing.”
Edinburgh is the only city in Scotland to retain public ownership of its local bus fleet, which is regularly hailed as the country’s best.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) announced earlier this year it would pursue a similar model across Greater Glasgow.
The current deregulated network could be replaced with a franchise system like the ones in London and Manchester.
This means fares, routes and ticketing would be controlled by a local public body such as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
But SPT has said it could take seven years to set up and would need at least £45m in extra funding every year.
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