Award-winning driver Karen is smooth operator
PASSENGERS RELAX ON BOARD WITH HER AT WHEEL OF BUS
JOURNEYS along the A52 with awardwinning bus driver Karen Miles are so smooth that passengers are nodding off on comfy seats.
Red Arrow driver Karen was recently named the Top National Bus Driver in the UK Bus and Coach Awards 2021.
Described as an “absolute inspiration” by her company, she drives passengers from Nottingham and Derby, and vice versa, on the A52 bus service.
Passengers have described it as a ‘cosy’ service - and Karen said some customers had a tendency to nod off on-board.
She said: “People fall asleep often, the more settled you are the more relaxing.
“It’s awful having to wake them but you get lots of ‘thank yous’ - it’s a comfy ride.”
Karen, of Littleover, Derby, is only the second female winner of the UK bus industry’s premier driving award in its 26-year history. She follows fellow Red Arrow driver Carole Hind’s breakthrough win in 2015.
Karen does 12 journeys each day from Nottingham to Derby.
The Post went on board a Red Arrow bus with Karen to find out what it’s really like to be driven by her.
As passengers started to board, they were met with a friendly smile and wave from Ms Miles who helped them with their tickets.
Karen said her favourite part of her job was meeting everyone and getting to know her passengers.
She said: “They’re all lovely to meet.
“We have regulars who you can have a bit of a laugh with and, on weekends, you get more people coming shopping.
“It’s always nice to see their smiles, it’s always great to have a good laugh.
“I’m quite happy.”
As the bus journey to Derby continued, the ride was peacefully quiet and smooth - and passengers said the seats were incredibly comfy.
Sophie Jeffrey, 20, who uses the bus service weekly to visit her brother in Derby, said it was a great service.
She said: “I use it regularly, so every couple of days.
“It’s a good bus service, it comes frequently, it’s cosy.
“The staff are nice, I’ve never had a problem.”
Danny Tooher, who travels from Derby to Nottingham city centre weekly, said the staff members were ‘welcoming.’
“It’s a good service and it’s pretty good that it comes every 10 minutes,” he said.
“I don’t know the staff but they’re always welcoming.”
The buses run every 10 minutes, taking passengers from city to city in about half an hour.
Karen said it was “an honour” to have been nominated for the award.
She said: “It was quite a surprise, I didn’t think I’d win it.
“It’s an honour, we all work really hard and the award is for everyone’s hard work.
“We are all a team.”
She added: “It feels really good as it is a male dominated job.
“My kids are all grown up now so I could do shift work easier, with other families it won’t be as easy.”