(15 Sep 2015, 1:32 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I did point out that maybe the service wasn't living up to Sapphire standards, which is what prompted the "out of our control" reply from them.Surely it is just basic planning that the operators need to do? Someone putting 2 + 2 together, using their initiative and looking at the council website every so often? It beats waiting for a press release issued by the council!
You would think it would take less person minutes to put an explanation on their website and link to it via social media than it would to field customer complaints, but clearly that's too much like joined up thinking. Besides, if their first instinct is to downplay the extent of delays ten whoever is sitting in a nice warm office, possibly in another part of the country, isn't going to think about such courtesies as letting someone stood at an exposed bus stop in the middle of nowhere on a filthy day know why they're stood freezing, getting a soaking or whatever for 15-20 minutes longer than they should be for their half hourly (or less often) bus service.
The information is there (apart from last minute closures) and quite often road signs appear in advance, warning passing motorists of impending major delays - yet, the passenger isn't always informed.
Even if they aren't aware of the closure, until the last minute, as you say - it must be easier sticking out a quick all depots warning and putting a message on social media.