News / first bus
Bus services hit as creeping Covid cases cause driver shortages
An operator in Bristol has announced major disruption to bus services amid Covid cases creeping up amongst staff.
First West of England said they are experiencing unprecedented rates of illness which it is having a knock-on effect on the business.
The operator has asked for patience as they struggle to keep all services running with increased numbers of drivers off work.
“Similar to many other organisations, we are currently experiencing an unusually high rate of sickness due to Covid and therefore absence within the business,” said a spokesperson for First West of England.
They continued: “This is, of course, having a knock on effect on the reliability of the service we can currently provide to our customers.
“We have as many drivers on the road as possible but there will inevitability be some impact on some services and we want to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this may be causing.
The announcement comes as major changes to First’s timetable are set to come into play on April 24 – with 11 routes affected. Despite this, the bus operator said they hope to maintain “a reliable a service as possible and minimise disruption”.
A spokesperson added: “We appreciate your patience and be assured we are doing everything we can to mitigate this unusual set of circumstances.”
To find out if a service is cancelled, you can check on the First Bus app. The company also say the information about disruptions should appear on the real time information boards at stops as well.
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
Read more: Covid cases among staff force Bristol schools to send year groups home
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