‘First is currently experiencing some reliability issues’
FIRST West of England MD Doug Claringbold said: “Due to the current national driver shortage that is affecting all transport sectors, from supermarket supply chains to public transport, First West of England is, regrettably, currently experiencing some reliability issues in its registered timetables.
“There may be a need to temporarily suspend a small number of journeys until this situation is fully resolved.
“However, over the coming weeks, we are looking to plan and publish any cancellations in advance, avoiding busy buses, less frequent services such as those in rural areas, and last buses – we want to make our services as predictable as possible.
“We will also be working with Weca to try to provide improved information on ‘real time information’ boards at bus stops.
“In deciding which journeys should be temporarily suspended we have taken into account a wide range of factors including detailed analysis of ongoing passenger data for each journey in order to minimise the inconvenience caused and to ensure that we are able to accommodate additional passengers on the journeys either side of those that will not run.
“We are working harder than ever to recruit and train new drivers, however in common with bus operators across the UK we are experiencing a severe shortage of staff.
“This situation is exacerbated by a number of other factors, including an increase in staff sickness, up three times normal levels in the West of England, an increase in drivers having to selfisolate due to family members contracting Covid-19 and staff holidays and accrued holidays resulting from long periods of furlough for some staff members.
“On top of this, due to Covid-19 restrictions placed on us earlier in the year, we have been prevented from close contact training with Passenger Carrying Vehicle learners, causing a backlog in training.
“Delays in getting licences back from DVLA due to industrial action has also had an impact although we’re pleased to see that this situation is starting to improve considerably.
“There are a number of things we are doing to address the problem, such as bringing in agency drivers to minimise service disruptions as much as possible in the short term.
“For the long term, we are investing heavily in retention and recruitment, including engaging with wider communities to show that a career as a bus driver is not only very worthwhile and rewarding, but you are also joining a larger company focused on playing its part to build a sustainable, carbon-zero transport system.
“We are also addressing changing demands for flexible and part-time working within our recruitment offer.
“We also echo Dan Norris’s comment that bus drivers are key workers who have done a brilliant job through Covid.
“This is a challenge unlike any other the UK transport industry has faced. Rest assured we will get on top of this and in the short term we are doing everything possible to ensure the effects of the driver shortage are minimised and we thank our customers for their continued patience.”