Thugs force buses off the road

Jan 2 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

IRVINE commuters who travel on Stagecoach night buses to Kilbirnie will have to make other arrangements as the bus giant is taking them off the road.

A spate of attacks on the buses as they go through the town at night, climaxed on Saturday night when a bus had all but one of its windows smashed in Kilbirnie.

Now, Stagecoach have decided to curtail the 125 service into Kilbirnie after 6.30pm.

A spokesman said: “There have been three attacks on buses in the Garnock Valley area within the past week causing over £20,0000 worth of damage and causing injury to a driver and a passenger.

“Over 30 incidents of vandalism against buses have been reported since August and as a result, Stagecoach are working closely with the police to resolve the situation but until further notice there will be no evening services into Kilbirnie.

“Service 25 and 32 will operate as normal during the day.”