Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[Barney]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(23/10/2021 08:52)wirralbus Wrote:  Stagecoach seem to be having a horrid time today with numerous 471/2 cancelled , the afternoon / early evening service 41/42 doesnt look any better and 1 journey on the service 1 in early evening cancelled.

What got me is why it has taken so long for Stagecoach to realise the present timetables where unworkable.

We are all aware of the national shortage of professional drivers currently and there doesn't seem to be any prospect of this being resolved in the near future.

I read recently that in certain parts of the country bus drivers are leaving in droves to take up employment as delivery drivers and even shelf stackers for the big supermarkets where the pay and conditions are considerably better.

The only long-term solution is to increase pay for bus workers - as Stagecoach has just done in many subsidiaries - but if one company such as Arriva or Tescos continues to offer better rates and conditions, the problem of recruitment and retention will persist indefinitely.