Today was the first day of the new bus service under CTPlus. One expects some teething problems , but the scale of adverse comment and mishap reported to me is worrying. The drop in passenger numbers in Guernsey since the same outfit took over their service in April made me apprehensive from the outset. I won't report the third party points, but my two journeys today on the buses I can recount.
The 7:30am from the Parish Hall did not arrive did not arrive until almost ten to eight. This despite a lower level than normal traffic on the roads. When I did get a number 9 the driver was unable to get the new ticket machine to issues the £1.70 fare, only the £1.20 tickets. At the station, none of the information boards was working, and the hand written notices showed that despite keeping largely the same routes, the departure stands have been changed. My return journey was ten minutes late leaving, and when it got to the border of St Peter and St Brelade the driver clearly had no awareness that the road had been closed all day for electric cable work.
On the plus side, the seats have more leg room and the buses are quieter. But this is no substitute for clear information and punctual arrival and departure at stops. Unless service levels pick up I foresee local passenger numbers following the Guernsey trend.
I think you're doing very good job by providing bus service to people. From this people will get good help to move from one city to onother. Impressive!
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