Transport First Bus sorry as staff shortages continue to hit services in city
BRISTOL’S main bus company said it is “acutely aware of passengers’ frustrations” as the ongoing driver shortage continues to mean people are left waiting more than an hour for a bus in some areas of the city.
First Bus said it was doing all it could to address the continuing issues, after an 80-year-old man told how he had to get a taxi when his bus into the city didn’t turn up.
Mike Openshaw told how his regular number 42 bus from Bitton to the city centre used to run every 20 minutes, but recent cuts have seen that reduced to every 30 minutes and now every 60 minutes.
And when that one bus an hour didn’t turn up, he had to take a taxi – which has now led the pensioner to question whether First Bus should continue to be Bristol’s main bus service provider.
“Whilst most would agree that the solution to the problem of pollution in our city lies in part to there being an efficient and reliable bus service, the current experience of commuters does little to encourage them to switch to public transport,” he told the Post.
“The number 42 from Bitton to City Centre Broad Quay used to run every 20 minutes but was reduced to every 30 minutes. It is now every 60 minutes which, for many people, is simply not good enough. But when, as happened last Friday evening, the 5.56pm bus doesn’t arrive at all – with no explanation or warning via the electronic bus stop notice board – necessitating the use of a taxi to reach the destination on time, the viability of the current service must be called into question,” he added.
It’s not the only issue Mr Openshaw said he has experienced with First Bus services in from the east of the city.
“On Thursday, the number 42 from Broad Quay got as far as Croydon Street when the driver apologetically informed us that the relief driver had not arrived and we should board the number 43 which had just arrived behind us.
“This bus does go to Hanham, where I live, but it is fortunate that I am only 80 years old, otherwise the
half-mile walk up Greenbank Road to Hollyguest Road might have been more than I could manage.
“First Bus is finding difficulty in recruiting drivers and I don’t disbelieve them but from a passenger’s point of view that is irrelevant – either they find a way to run an efficient, reliable service, or if they can’t, let Bristol find an organisation that can,” he added.
First Bus has warned passengers that a driver shortage was causing problems recently, and said it had redoubled its recruitment efforts.
“As is being experienced across the bus industry, we have seen varying levels of driver shortages over the last few weeks at First West of England, similar to other road transport businesses,” a spokesperson for First West of England said.
“We are doing everything we can to maintain a comprehensive network of services that supports our customers and our communities. The majority of routes are running normally although we have made temporary timetable adjustments for some routes to ensure a reliable service and minimise disruption.
“We have also accelerated the introduction of a new technology that provides customers with the means to see via both the App and the Real Time Information (RTI) boards at stops whether a service has been cancelled and when the next one is due to, again, remove some of the current uncertainty.
“For clarity, services 42 and 43 are the direct services to Kingswood and the 44 and 45 serve Hanham direct.
“Our purpose is to serve our customers, so we are acutely aware of the frustration and inconvenience this has caused for some of them – and for our drivers who are doing their utmost to deliver the best possible service under the circumstances.
“We thank customers for their patience and understanding while we overcome this short-term situation.
“We continue to offer an attractive and competitive employee proposition, both for our existing dedicated team and for new drivers undergoing training. People are keen to become bus drivers and serve their local communities, and we are working to make that process as easy as possible,” she added.