We're having a change in timings 'down our way' from the end of March for one of our routes.  Previously weren't given enough time between three timing points (in & out bound) for years.  Following services invariably left late.
Constant complaints by drivers - all ignored.
Seems the timing people were unaware of what route we had been running & didn't realise the timing problems.  Hence a new rescheduled route with (it seems) sensible times.
Another longer distance one was retimed a few months ago (again after years of complaints) and now has too much time on it now; so yes, busses can be left outside houses/waiting in the country for their time.  This route time change has now also brought in a new set of problems, namely meeting an outgoing bus in very narrow country lane - somone has to reverse! 10 minutes later meets another outbound (on a different service) in narrows.
Changing times isn't as simple as it sounds.
Occasionally when you reach a timing point early, there can be up to 3 other busses waiting time, so a road block can result.
Other timing points are unsuitable for waiting.
No easy answer

Hi Scott, & welcome.
Not known to me in my parochial part of the rubber-wheeled world, but as I have an attention span that a goldfish would be proud to have, I'd have forgotten who, what & where within a day.
Is this perhaps a slow take-over of a metal wheel forum by rubber wheel members, methinks
However, I'm suprised that as a company known to us both appears to be disposing of depots, that there's someone else still employed within the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) .
I take it at that time of the day you'd just come off lates

BNM hits the nail hard!
"Training" on items (especially new tickets) is mostly done with an A4 note on the wall.  Sometimes in colour, mostly copied, so generally black and white.
Some many on the walls to see, difficult to spot a new one.

Off for a few days (or week's leave), and spend a while looking around at all the notices, trying to spot the new ones on your return.
Done in your own time of course, as no official time added on for 'notice reading'

Slight clarification, perhaps required.
Yes, vehicles are regularly changed (single for double & v.v), and a double can end up on a low bridge route.  But it needs to be divered (or changed to a single) at the depot stop midway.
Agreed, not entirely the drivers fault, but the subsequent inquiry will blame the driver who will invariably be changing companies in the very near future!
Also we have several different height double deckers, something a driver needs to be aware of as well.

Also standing in the middle of a London terminus walkway? with no reflective or hard hat.
Surely 'elf'n's' would 'ave a fit?

Thanks Brucey.
Not often I find someone agreeing with me.........
Yes, lazy habits creep in and become the current new (like the current phase of steering with the flat palm of one hand........w h a a a t?).
I.A.M member for 35+ years, but bad habits had crept in,
Recently took my PCV licence: that shook the cobwebs out, and woke me up again.
 

Drivers know which routes low bridges are on, and the route taken ensures a collision doesn't happen. Routes are generally planned to avoid low bridges with any vehicle.
However, a single decker will be swapped for a double, and control should inform the driver to change route because of a low bridge.
No radio's fitted to any of our vehicles, so everything is by your own mobile.
Company rules state these should be left in your locker before commencing work,  This then leaves you without communication in case of a problem...............
Control can be swamped on occasions, so they forget; the driver doesn't think ahead - errors occur.
Thank you Chris & richerwarwick. Yes, I am a driver, but forgot on one occasion (towards the end of a day) about a low bridge enroute as I had a decker.  Control advised me at a half way stop, so that village was bypassed, and the main road used.
Have heard of that happening to other drivers - either the driver reminded control, or they reminded the driver.
Diversion routes are always planned by the managers going out before and checking for vehicle suitability.  We are then supposed to be route trained to gain route familiarity.

"A fleet of busses on standby".

Would be good to have ONE on standby for replacement within the bus network here.
Around two years ago, all bus depots (in this area) were told they could only have the current number required for service in that depot - no spare(s).  This was to reduce road tax, insurance & maintenance costs (I believe).
When a vehicle goes down now, something has to give, so busses are swapped around at no notice, and runs sometimes dropped.
Rail replacement is usually done at weekends when the bus schedules are not as intensive, so the "weekday" busses are used for rail.
Drivers volunteer for rail, though that presents it's own problem with EU^» (European Union - about)/domestic driving hours being involved.
It seems there are spare busses available, but a case has to be made for one or two to become available - so I've heard.

When the pressure is on a driver, mistakes happen.  They are only human,
That said, they have an enormous responsibility at all times when in the cab.
Driving single and double deckers all day long, different routes, different busses, daily varied shifts.
Sudden changes of routes & diversions all add up to a very demanding job.
I can see why this happens.
The hours drivers spend in the cab per week (39+), incidents are bound to happen.
Doesn't excuse it, as the basic fault is always "lack of attention"

I'm regularly annoying my family by saying everyone from 60 years should have a compulsory test every three or four years.  From 70 on it should be every two years. Failure should result in a complete retest from the beginning.
I'm almost 64 now (before anyone accuses me of being ageist).
It wouldn't go down well with any Government as a pre-election hit, but I'm sure the DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) would love the paperwork, (and test centres the extra work).