‘I haven’t hugged by kids for weeks’
Lockdown bus driver tells of his virus fears
ABUS driver has revealed how he hasn’t seen or hugged his kids for three weeks over fears of spreading the coronavirus.
Grant Brown, 35, works Stagecoach routes across Greater Manchester, including those running through Stockport and Glossop.
He told the Express: “Hearing about transport workers in London is a massive concern for us all especially the numbers dying.
“I’ve now stopped seeing my six-year-old twins Bailey and Olivia, who live with their mum.
“When I have occasionally seen them I keep my distance. I haven’t given them a kiss or a cuddle for three weeks - not since the first bus driver death was announced.
“It’s a scary time, we’ve got to take these measures because it spreads so easily on buses and you don’t know who’s got what when you get on a bus.
It’s so hard because both of them cry, they don’t understand why I can’t give them a kiss or cuddle like I used to do.
“I hate having to leave them. They don’t understand.
“But I want to keep working. I feel like I’m doing something to help the fight because we are picking up a lot of NHS workers and other key workers.
“To know I’m doing that little bit helps.
“At work, it’s a bit stressful trying to calm down passengers as they are anxious.
“They are asking questions like ‘what’s happening with the bus service?,’ ‘Are your buses clean?’ Lots of questions about hygiene.
“But it’s good as well because everyone’s letting on, wishing us well, saying thank you for coming into work. They seem to really appreciate the job we are doing.
“It’s not like before when people just scanned on and off.
“All around Bredbury people have started leaving thank you signs on bus stops - that’s cool.
“It makes you realise that
people are actually thinking of you and what you’re doing is not forgotten.
“We haven’t been provided with any gloves or masks - Stagecoach say they are sticking to what the Government is saying which is that gloves and masks aren’t helping.
“If we want them we have to provide them ourselves.
“I do wear gloves because lots of people are still paying with cash.
“It does worry me when you handle cash, it’s dirty isn’t it.
“But a lot of key workers don’t have contactless although where driver “All possible. the are we seats cordoned do prefer near that the off which is good.
“I’m happy with what Stagecoach are doing to protect customers and drivers.
“But I’d say around 55 per cent of passengers aren’t essential travellers. I can tell from what they say.
“There are elderly passengers saying they don’t want to be stuck inside and they’re not scared of the virus.
“But it’s not just about them - it’s about spreading it to others.
“Kids are still getting on quite a bit, travelling to stops nowhere near the shops or doctors.
“There are no police asking where people are going and what their purpose is.
“I think people see it as an easy escape route because they know they aren’t going to get stopped.
“But I’ve been given hand sanitiser and the buses are being cleaned and disinfected.
“When you get to a bus terminus, inspectors are getting on and going over everything with disinfectant to protect drivers and customers.
“Obviously we all wish it could be over today.
“But I knew there would be an extension - purely from the amount of people still out and about.
“They can’t let it go because people aren’t listening. But the sooner we can get out the sooner they can have those barbecues and picnics in the park.
“I’d just like to stay please stay inside if you don’t need to go out. The sooner we adhere to the lockdown the sooner we can all start living our lives again.”
Another bus driver working for Stagecoach during lockdown is concerned about a lack of PPE. This driver spoke to the Expess anonymously. This is what he said.
“I work for Stagecoach in Greater Manchester and a lot of staff are either on furlough or off sick - more than half actually.
“You can tell just by looking at the size of the rotas. But routes and passengers have reduced quite a lot too.
“Among my colleagues there have been a few cases of coronavirus.
“It’s worrying to see the deaths in London of key workers and bus drivers when you are dealing face to face with the public every day. But we’re doing the best we can.
“We don’t have masks or gloves from the company.
“I have a family at home and I do worry about bringing the virus home to them.
“If some of my family members got this they’d be finished because they are in the vulnerable category.
“Of the passengers using our services there’s quite a mixture of people.
“Some are going to and from work and others are doing their shopping.
“But some are just going for a day out and abusing the rules. I know because I can hear their conversations.
“There was one lady saying she was off to do some clothes shopping, all the way from south Manchester right into the city centre.
“There was somebody else saying they were going for a walk in the hills and getting buses to go out there. There was even a big group of people with a barbecue who said they were going to the park for the day.
“It’s not right that people should be doing that. They know the rules but they are doing it anyway. “And nobody’s policing it, it’s just a case of we are there driving the buses and people do whatever they want.
“For the most part, though, people have been respectful and some people have made nice comments - thanking us for what we’re doing.
“It’s good to be recognised - that’s very much appreciated.”
A Stagecoach spokesman said: “Covid-19 is one of the biggest challenges we have faced, but it has also demonstrated vividly the fantastic group of professionals we have right across the public transport family.
“Keeping our people and customers safe is our absolute priority and all of our vehicles are going through an enhanced cleaning regime, which is being strictly adhered to, and includes extensive cleaning of the main customer touch-points.
“We have issued thousands of personal bottles of hand sanitiser to our front line staff and there are larger refill bottles within the depot to ensure no one goes short.
“We’re also in twice weekly contact with trade union reps - which is just one avenue of several where drivers can express concerns.
“We are following the government’s current guidelines on the use of PPE in a non-medical environment and we will continue to monitor its PPE Plan for any updated advice.
“The World Health Organisation has said there is no evidence that cash is transmitting the Coronavirus, but it does say people should clean their hands after handling cash, and our drivers are equipped with hand sanitiser to enable them to do this.
“In addition, we are carrying out extra cleaning of the cash trays on the buses and encouraging people to use contactless wherever possible. As the government learn more and update the information and advice for everyone, we are making sure that we continue to adapt and make the necessary changes to our own operation.”