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Boss of First bus apologises for lack of reliability
It will not be news to anyone in Bristol that the city does not have the bus service it deserves and needs.
Years of delays, lack of reliability and expensive fares have led to calls for First to be replaced by a franchise model, such as that in London where public transport is largely run by a local authority.
Doug Claringbold came in as the managing director of First West of England in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has taken its toll on the number of passengers using buses in the city as well as driver numbers, with the company launching a huge recruitment drive in a bid to attract new staff.
is needed now More than ever
But problems with the service across the city go back for many years and stand in the way of people opting to use public transport over their cars.
Bristol24/7 met the boss of Bristol’s bus operator at the company’s Lawrence Hill depot and put readers’ questions to him. Topics covered ranged from reliability, particularly in south Bristol, to fares, franchising, existing challenges, joined-up transport solutions and what it will take for the city to have the bus service it deserves.
Listen to the interview in full on the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Main photo: Ellie Pipe
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