Three bus operators are again reporting a spate of service cancellations due to a 'driver shortage'. Nottingham City Transport (NCT), trentbarton and CT4N have all been forced to cancel services, while apologising for the 'inconvenience caused'.
Customers have already raised concerns and branded some services "ghost buses", with many failing to even turn up despite appearing to be on-time on bus stop displays. This is due to a shortage of bus drivers, a national issue plaguing the country.
Unite the Union says it paints a "highly disturbing picture" for passengers, as drivers leave jobs due to working conditions and pay. For example, trentbarton's driving team currently has 130 vacancies, the operator says, which is 17% short of what is required to run a full timetable.
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At the start of the year the threat of strikes also led to NCT drivers receiving a substantial pay rise. Issues however remain across the board.
As of Friday, September 30 trentbarton has cancelled nine services, and NCT has cancelled the same number of services. Meanwhile CT4N has cancelled six of its services.
NCT
According to NCT nine services are affected. These include 6, 17, 27, 45, 56, 58, 59, 77 and 89.
NCT says: "Apologies, these services are affected by reduced driver availability today. These cancellations are reflected in our app and on our website in the live departure boards and journey planner.
"Sorry for the inconvenience caused."
trentbarton
trentbarton has also cancelled nine services. These include H1, Indigo, i4, Keyworth, Mainline, My15, Nines, Rainbow 1, Skylink, Two and 21.
The stops affected can be seen on the trentbarton website and its Twitter page.
CT4N
CT4N has cancelled a number of services, many of which running to and from Nottingham City Hospital. The service says: "Due to driver shortages the following Medilink journeys will not be operating From City Hospital: 07:27 08:57 07:47 09:15 09:45 10:55 13:25 14:35 15:45 15:55 16:45 17:05 17:18 18:15.
"Due to driver shortages the following Medilink journeys will not be operating From Queens Drive: 06:50 07:10 08:20 08:40 09:10 10:20 12:50 14:00 15:10 15:20 16:10 16:30 16:40 17:30 and from Wilkinson Street 06:37."
L14 from Bulwell, Basford and the Victoria Centre, as well as X2 and 18 from Beeston and Beastmarket Hill are also affected.
Trams are also affected by delays this morning. NET adds: "We have no service between Wilkinson Street and David Lane. NCT Yellow line. Buses are accepting tickets and passes."
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