(19 Dec 2021, 11:34 am)Keeiajs wrote Might be worth just throwing the 56' plate OmniDekka's on them, Yes they won't have the spec but more capacity.
Personally I am worried about how popular the services will be, like final buses to Dalton Park/Peterlee/Easington lane/ Durham what if they are full to capacity at the last service of the day. I can see some real issues and with no Customer Services in that day it just seems like it will be a trainwreck, especially with cancellations. On 21 or X1 cancellation......oh god.
It will be interesting to see how they manage that situation and whether cust svc is going to be a priority in that period of the day.
Front line staff missing + crowded or delayed buses = potential carnage.
A customer service offer would play a part in helping mitigate some of the issues.
(19 Dec 2021, 12:32 pm)54APhotography wrote Ultimately, no matter what we have all written here, this is not the fault of the bus companies, the situation with HGV pay rates is still taking those drivers who can away. The rate of new recruits is incapable of matching the usual loss plus this, and the DVLA have royally screwed up licences for the best part of three years now.
But those companies who can should as written here dedicate themselves to ensuring deckers are available to be switched in when mass cancellations take place and the impending crush on Christmas Eve. GNE obviously have a better ability to do this, but there are countless heavily stacked operators who have a good stock that could come out after 12 noon to make this Christmas Eve not go as many of us suspect...
Hmm, not sure I agree with that mind.
In addition to any external influences, there's internal factors at play and operators need to take some responsibity for the shortage of staff and high attrition rate.