The managing director of Xplore Dundee has revealed the fight involved to retain services.
The bus firm has recently come under fire after introducing a number of changes to its services, which has prompted several public meetings, including one this week.
Dozens of bus users turned out at the Caird Hall on Monday to vent their frustrations.
It followed changes to the firm’s 4, 5, 14 and 24 routes, with accusations the company was focusing on “profits before people”.
Following the controversy over the changes — as well as recent attacks on its fleet by vandals — Xplore boss Elsie Turbyne spoke to the Tele to explain the background to the firm’s review of services and address residents’ concerns about safety.
Speaking about services 4 and 24 being discontinued, she said: “We tried a lot of different things. I fought long and hard to try to keep them on the road.”
But she said the decision was made to scrap those services which were deemed “unsustainable” — despite attempts to increase their use.
“We don’t like being in the position of having to cut buses,” she added.
“We appreciated that there was going to be deep strength of feeling at this week’s meeting — but I think the ‘profits before people’ claim is unfair on us.
“We are a limited company and we do need to make a profit to please the shareholders, but we also have wages to pay.
“We’re a Living Wage employer and also invest funds back into the business. Our costs have increased and there has been a drop in passengers over the years — that’s the reality.”
Ms Turbyne explained there are rules preventing “cross-subsidy” between services.
She said: “The 22 is a successful service, our most popular. But what we aren’t allowed to do is take money from that service to pay for another — that is, to subside a route such as the number 4.”
Three Xplore routes — 9, 10 and 33 — were withdrawn from Lothian Crescent in Whitfield on Tuesday after youths attacked the vehicles with stones.
Ms Turbyne said: “Whitfield is an area that comes up again and again.
“But I don’t believe having conductors on buses would help the situation as the problems are normally outside the bus, not on them.
“We recently released a hard-hitting video about antisocial behaviour on buses, which we are showing in schools.
“Education and the legal system are our best tools to tackle this.
“But there is a possibility that we might have to consider curtailing services at certain times as an absolute last resort.
“It seems to happen in spates, rather than ongoing sustained attacks. Halloween is usually a bad time of year.”
Ms Turbyne said one of the main positives to come out of Monday’s public meeting was the opening of dialogue between Xplore Dundee and Dundee City Council.
She added: “There are ways we can improve things and talking to the council is central to that.
“There are a number of things we are already looking at in response to the points raised at this week’s meeting.
“One of the areas we’re examining is the possibility of the council subsidising certain routes. We’re ready and willing to do something.”