PCL Travel
PCL Travel
Got some time now so will type this up.
I've used the 15 a few times this week, and I've had nothing but bother, on Monday, the driver drove straight past me at speed and stopped further up the road, laughing and saying he didn't see me (I was in direct sunlight, stood at a junction)... No apologies or anything...
Yesterday, it was a different driver, where he stopped at the same location, but then continued to shout at me telling me that that wasn't a bus stop, despite Google Maps and bustimes.org.uk saying so, he then drove past the so-called bus stop and shouted that that is where I should stand. I also attempted to get the 1740 departure from Alnwick, but when my X20 approached Alnwick at 1738, the bus was nowhere to be seen, causing me to divert via Morpeth and Rothbury, and walking along a dark unlit road to where I'm staying, thankfully I had a torch, or I probably would have been knocked over.
Today, my mother went to Rothbury to get some shopping, she missed the 15 due to early running, so proceeded to walk with a pram to Rothbury, of which she regrets now... She then attempted to get the 15 back to where we are staying at 1155, but then was refused travel as a minibus turned up, and no effort was made to assist her to get her on her way, with the driver shrugging his shoulders and saying that the "other bus broke down", thankfully the Arriva X14 was behind, of which the driver was apparently "shocked" at what happened, and gave my mother a lift to an alternative entrance to Cragside where she was able to safely walk back to where we are staying. I attempted to get a photo of the minibus on its return from Alnwick to send to NCC, but they had swapped it for a Solo, presumably after being "confronted" earlier in Rothbury.
I truly feel sorry for those who rely on PCL's diabolical services as a lifeline, as their actions are putting people in dangerous situations, this is just on one service, so goodness knows what they're doing on others.
