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Passengers told to walk as bus struggles up hill
Friday 18th December 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
Passengers on a Black Country bus were flabbergasted when they were asked to get off and walk up a hill to lighten the load on a struggling single deck vehicle.
John and Rita Wardle were on the packed 283 bus when they say it suddenly cut out while the driver tried to make his way up Highbridge Road in Netherton, Dudley.
The couple claim the driver asked if people would mind getting off and walking to the top where he would pick them up, hoping the lighter load would enable him to get the bus going again.
The Wardles, who are both in their 70s and were laden down with heavy shopping bags, said there was no way they were getting off the bus.
Retired furniture salesman Mr Wardle today said it was “disgusting” that National Express was running buses which he claims seem worn out.
He said: “We didn’t get off the bus, I mean it defeats the object of catching one doesn’t it?
“We had three or four bags with us so we wouldn’t have carried them up a hill.
“It’s laughable really. I felt sorry for the driver it was embarrassing for him.
“The bus always has a job of getting up the hill and grinds its way to the top.
“I think there are a lot of old buses being run in the Black Country and it’s disgusting.”
National Express West Midlands today said it was investigating the incident and a spokeswoman added: “Providing reliable and safe bus journeys is our priority.”
About half of the 50 passengers did get off and joined the bus at the top of the hill where it continued its journey, according to Mr Wardle. The couple, of Netherton, were on their way home from a shopping trip at the Merry Hill Centre.
The service runs from the Merry Hill Centre to Bilston and Mr Wardle says over the past 10 years he and other passengers have written to the company on numerous occasions to complain about it being unreliable and overcrowded.
Mr Wardle added: “This must be the worse service in the whole of the West Midlands. “Sometimes it turns up late and sometimes not at all although it’s not been too bad recently.
“I’ve asked for the route to be extended to three buses an hour because they get so full. Passengers deserve better.”
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could have been worse the driver might have asked you to push it up the hill
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“Providing reliable and safe bus journeys is our priority.”
..as well as being packed in like sardines, on generally, unreliable dirty vehicles that seemingly incapable of travelling up a hill? When I go to Spain next and travel on a clean, air-conditioned and spacious bus..remind me to stop off at the souvenir shop and by a donkey; it reminds me of something.
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Service 283 is operated by Pensnett depot – a veritable retirement home for charabancs from elsewhere around National Express’s West Midlands empire.
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I WONDER IF NATIONAL EXPRESS STILL USE CRANK HANDLES TO START THEIR AGEING BUSES UP.
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Last week I was on a 529 that travelled 1 stop then broke down. The previous week The 79 that I was about to get on had to be withdrawn because the demisters had failed due to the cold weather. Ironically while we were waiting for the next bus a promotional NE\ Beacon Radio bus pulled up trying to sell us the benefits of bus travel!
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Try the 79 ‘bus between Wolverhampton and Darlaston. Drunks, druggies smoking skunk, abusive fare-dodgers and chavs with more children than manners – this bus has it all.
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Anon:
I can guarantee you that the buses are spotless when they leave the depots each morning before service. Sad to say it’s a minority of folk who have a total disregard for their fellow passengers by using the buses as mobile restaurants and waste disposal units.
In relation to “being packed in like sardines” – i would agree with you, as generally, bus services in this country ceased to be a “service” after deregulation was introduced in the 1980′s. Nowadays all bus companies operating outside London run their buses on a purely commercial basis.
So… Transporting X amount of people per hour from A to B using 6 half empty buses, OR, the same amount of passengers per hour using only 3 FULL buses …
Which do you think is likely to happen?
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i always try to avoid using Travel West Midlands buses, they are all old and rundown buses around the Dudley area, I use Hanson and Diamond buses where possible, they both have newer buses and are always reliable, TWM buses NEVER run on time and are unreliable, their drivers attitude and customer services are appalling, use alternatives where possible, use Hanson, Diamond, Choice and Midland buses, all who have good drivers who are polite and helpful…..
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No wonder the vehicle was struggling: typically the vehicles used on this service are 37-seaters, so even if they’re licensed for a number of standing passengers greater than thirteen, fifty on board seems like overloading. Mind you I once travelled on a London Daimler Fleetline DMS from Muswell Hill to Finsbury Park in the entrance stepwell, I guess there may have been 100 on that 68-seater!
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Why is public transport such an issue in this region? We have so many people, so many roads and so many forms of transport..can’t we even get our priorities right? I stopped using certain routes because of the attitude of ‘some’ fellow passengers, issues regarding personal safety, security, efficiency and also thanks to the attitude of staff including drivers and bus operators. We get the service we stand for, and we stand for anything, it seems. Elsewhere in Europe they seem to have more self-respect and pride, and this is reflected in their transport systems.
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