Driver Shortage Bites (69110)
Following the mass departure of Aberdeen drivers after First imposed a pay and conditions reduction on them in May, First have struggled to backfill the gap. The hiring of drivers from elsewhere in the group and administration staff driving buses has been used but ultimately the gap has not been filled and now buses are being pulled from service. Initially this was just for a few hours but now a board will be removed each day and now multiple boards.
With the rail replacement operation ending today I wonder if the agency drivers used on it will migrate to city work. Certainly a few days ago, I saw a Platinum 12 being driven by a guy in a t shirt and a baseball cap. There was also a complaint on Twitter from a passenger who said the driver left a Platinum 19 with passengers to go to Costa Coffee for a drink mid route.
The 1A ran hourly instead of the timetabled half hour service for much of the summer until passengers rumbled it and complaint was made to the Traffic Commissioner. Now other routes are being targeted.
Driver Shortage Bites (69110)
Following the mass departure of Aberdeen drivers after First imposed a pay and conditions reduction on them in May, First have struggled to backfill the gap. The hiring of drivers from elsewhere in the group and administration staff driving buses has been used but ultimately the gap has not been filled and now buses are being pulled from service. Initially this was just for a few hours but now a board will be removed each day and now multiple boards.
With the rail replacement operation ending today I wonder if the agency drivers used on it will migrate to city work. Certainly a few days ago, I saw a Platinum 12 being driven by a guy in a t shirt and a baseball cap. There was also a complaint on Twitter from a passenger who said the driver left a Platinum 19 with passengers to go to Costa Coffee for a drink mid route.
The 1A ran hourly instead of the timetabled half hour service for much of the summer until passengers rumbled it and complaint was made to the Traffic Commissioner. Now other routes are being targeted.