Great Western Coffee Shop

My bus home this evening turned up 20 minutes late. Wessex Bristol 501 Shirehampton Green to Bristol Parkway. That is just about forgivable when there are reasons beyond the control of the operator. However, tonight's reason was a new driver sent straight from the depot to the start point, with no knowledge of the route and no route conductor. He was late to the start point because he got lost between the depot in Avonmouth and Shirehampton Green. He had no route map, no stop list and had been sent out by the Inspector with, he told me, the Inspector saying, "follow the 'Real Time' screen or ask the passengers".  ::)

The 'Real Time' system fitted to the bus is used to feed info to the 'next bus' bus stop displays and some of Wessex's fleet have ones with a screen, but this only lists stops and timetable info. Not much use to a new driver with zero route knowledge when he comes to a junction.

I had to route conduct as far as my stop and hand over to another passenger going a little further. If no one else boarded after that this driver would be stuffed. I suggested, being already very late, and with the next service (a 502 with minor route difference after Southmead Hospital) only a few minutes behind, that he wait for that one and follow it.

My journey was only 10 minutes. A route conductor would likely be another driver on about ^8 per hour. I reckon Wessex Bristol owe me ^1.33. Shall I invoice them?

Not a bad idea, BNM. I had a similar experience some years back, when catching a number 8 (or was it 9?) to Temple Meads one Sunday. I parked up in Cotham Brow because the Severn Beach line didn't do Sundays, and it was cheaper than parking at TM.

I have a feeling that my directions to the rookie driver were not helped by the fact that I had never done that journey before. Turning from Tyndalls Park Road into Whiteladies Road, he remarked at the long distance since the last bus stop. I had to agree that he had a point.

That's happened to me twice before on the now discontinued 223 route from Uxbridge to Heathrow Airport. On the first occasion the driver took a left turn when we expecting him to do a right, we assumed he was on diversion until he stopped the bus a bit further on and asked "Do I turn left here". On the second occasion I was the only passenger on the bus when the driver openly admitted that this was his first time on the route and he wasn't sure of the way. I managed to get to my stop and tell him how to get to Heathrow which was only two more stops away.

Reminds me of the story of the flight to Jersey where the pilot makes idle chat over the intercom before asking if anyone has been there before. When someone says yes, he asks "Is is sort of kidney shaped?"