Stagecoach Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(12/12/2016 21:30)Dentonian Wrote:  Off-peak journeys on 168/9 are all scheduled to have the basic 5 minutes stand in Ashton, so if they are getting 10-15 minutes there is something clearly wrong. That sort of early running is not only a serious issue for VOSA, but I would suggest totally unprecedented at Stagecoach Manchester - especially as they are constantly re-registering the service with increased running time (yes, it is included in January changes). In fact, my admittedly occasional observations suggest that 168/9s regularly arrive late (in common with many off-peak services away from the city centre), with drivers loading up and getting out ASAP.
Additionally, Operators pay for excess parking on the bus park (adj. to Wellington Street), so if 168/9s are taking up the gaps, they will either inconvenience their Ashton depot colleagues or incur penalty charges from TFGM.
TBH, are there that many smokers left driving buses (or doing any other job)? Last stats I saw suggest that since the 2006 Health Act was implemented, the number of Adult male smokers has dropped considerably to about 15% of the population. OK, Women stubbornly refuse to quit at anything like the same rate for some reason, but rightly or wrongly (wrongly, probably!), Women still only constitute a tiny minority of bus drivers.

They do tend to arrive late or very late. You do occasionally get one that drops passengers then goes onto layover normally for a quick loo dash.

I think a large proportion of bus drivers smoke. Perhaps it's the stress of all the congestion