18th October 2026
The week brought a significant change for public transport in Caithness, with local bus operations moving into public ownership while the loss of a direct link to Inverness raises fresh questions about rural connectivity.
Caithness faces an important week for public transport, with two developments highlighting the opportunities and difficulties of providing essential services in the far north.
From Monday, 19 October, Highland Council-owned D&E Coaches takes over the Stagecoach bus operations in Wick and Thurso. At the same time, the X99 service linking Scrabster, Thurso and Wick with Inverness is scheduled to end after Sunday, 18 October.
Together, the changes illustrate a central challenge for Caithness: how to maintain reliable transport connections in a rural area where distances are long and passenger numbers may not always support a commercially viable service.
26 jobs protected as buses move into public ownership
The transfer of Stagecoach's Wick and Thurso operations to D&E Coaches is expected to protect all 26 local jobs, including 20 drivers and six maintenance staff.
The deal includes the existing fleet, depots and operational facilities. Local bus services, school transport, private hire contracts and services associated with Dounreay are expected to continue under the new operator.
Highland Council says the acquisition is part of its wider strategy to strengthen publicly owned transport provision and protect important rural services.
The challenge now is to demonstrate that public ownership can deliver reliable services and good value for money over the longer term. The change of operator is an important step, but passengers will ultimately judge it by the quality, frequency and reliability of the services they receive.
Further information is available from D&E Coaches.
X99 withdrawal leaves a gap in long-distance travel
The end of the X99 service is less welcome news for passengers who depend on the direct connection between Caithness and Inverness.
The route has served people travelling for hospital appointments at Raigmore, as well as those visiting Inverness for work, shopping and other essential journeys.
Stagecoach has attributed the withdrawal to persistently low passenger numbers and said it expects the impact on the community to be limited. However, the consequences may be more significant for people without access to a car.
Highland Council has confirmed that the acquisition of the local Stagecoach operations will not include the X99.
The loss raises a wider question about rural transport policy. Should a service be judged solely by passenger numbers, or should its importance to people who have few alternatives also be considered?
There is no easy answer when public money is limited. But the withdrawal highlights the need to examine whether alternative connections can meet the needs of older residents, patients and people on lower incomes.
Major energy investment remains in focus
Energy infrastructure continues to be an important part of Caithness's economic outlook.
Electricity transmission developments and battery storage proposals are among the projects attracting attention across the county. They reflect the wider transformation of the north of Scotland into an important area for renewable electricity generation and energy infrastructure.
The economic question is how much lasting benefit these developments will bring to local communities. Major projects can create work for contractors, suppliers and specialist trades, but the number of permanent jobs may be much smaller than the workforce required during construction.
Local businesses will want to know whether they can secure contracts, while communities will look for improvements to infrastructure, employment opportunities and the local economy.
The challenge is to ensure that Caithness gains more than a temporary increase in construction activity.
Communities continue to play their part
Community organisations also remain important to the future of rural Caithness. Local shops, voluntary groups and other community initiatives help sustain services that might otherwise disappear.
Watten's community-run shop and post office has attracted attention for its role as a village focal point, alongside refurbishment work and efforts to build support for its share offer.
Such initiatives demonstrate what local people can achieve when they work together. They also highlight the pressures facing small communities as they try to maintain facilities with limited resources.
Community ownership is not a substitute for every public service, but it can help preserve amenities that are important to local life.
The bigger picture
This week's developments are a reminder that Caithness faces both opportunities and difficult choices.
The transfer of local bus services offers a chance to strengthen transport provision and protect employment. The loss of the X99, however, exposes the vulnerability of long-distance connections on which some residents depend.
Meanwhile, energy investment could bring economic opportunities, provided local businesses and workers are able to share in the benefits.
The underlying issue is how to sustain a rural economy where commercial pressures, public spending constraints and long distances make providing services more difficult.
For Caithness, success will depend not simply on attracting investment or changing who operates a service, but on whether those changes improve everyday life for the people who live here.