11 Jul 2022, 6:14 pm
#646
(11 Jul 2022, 4:18 pm)Ambassador Proper regulation or a sensible compensation scheme would soon sort out the problem.
It's time to put more scrutiny on these cancellations and start recompensing passengers impacted (some left without options, some with much longer journeys) in the same way the railway industry does.
No doubt it will drive up fares to cover the costs but it might incentivise them to work smarter
I saw a handful of cancellations were put on for the 21 this evening. However once again the "due to operational issues service 21 is experiencing delays and there are long gaps between services. Apologies".
I was in Chester earlier waiting for the x21 at 11.35 heading to Newcastle and was amazed by just how many people there were waiting for the 21. I had a look on the app and saw that the most recent departure was tracking as being at the far end of low fell just as a bus which had started in Brandon was turning up meaning a 30 minute gap in service for a bus that is supposed to be every 10 under an already reduce "temporary" timetable.
With all due respect what is the point in putting that message on the app. Customers already know that there are long gaps between services as they are stood there waiting 3x as long as they had planned to be. By that point it is too late. A handful of cancellations on the list is better than the none that were previously being included on the 21 but it is not good enough. I've heard the excuse that they are being actively regulated before and so the list of cancellations for the 21 is not being included but again what use is that to the average passenger. They want to know if there bus is running or not before they go for it not after waiting half an hour for it.
I appreciate that some cancellations happen on the day and today there have been some notifications on the app of them but they did not even cover a fraction of the total journeys cancelled nor those terminated at gateshead/commenced in Birtley both of which I witnessed. It is just not good enough and it is all fine and well saying these issues will be resolved when the changes take place but what about the passengers who want to travel in the next 2 weeks.
I don't think I am being unreasonable in saying this but I am happy to be corrected if others on here think differently. Sorry for the rant but it needed to be said as this has been going on for too long now.
