Office workers drafted in to drive buses

NATIONAL Express office workers have been drafted in to drive buses to help keep services moving amid a staffing crisis.

Passengers in many areas have complained for months over delays and cancelled services.

The firm has struggled with staffing numbers since Covid restrictions were lifted. The shortage has seen passengers stranded at bus stops as services are either late or cancelled.

Bosses have apologised for the latest stream of disruption. They have vowed to improve but ask that customers ‘‘bear with us’’.

The travel operator responded to criticism with a ten-step action plan to improve services, saying it was ‘‘sincerely sorry’’ to all passengers experiencing delays.

Its improvement plan included paying workers more, improving flexibility and investing in training. And to stem the shortage, the firm said office staff able to drive buses had been drafted onto routes.

In a statement National Express said: “There’s a shortage of drivers across the UK. We’re known as a good employer, which has helped cushion the blow to some extent but we still have 7% fewer bus drivers than we need – and that means sometimes services are late, busy or cancelled.”