CT Plus reinstates more than a dozen bus services

The local service has been struggling for months, with hundreds of cancellations each week due to a driver shortage.

But the age limit for bus drivers has been lowered from 21 to 18 to help widen the net for applicants.

This is part of a package of changes, including a new pay structure and planned improvements to employment permit terms.

Driver numbers are beginning to increase again, with seven new appointments made in the last few weeks, as well as an increase in the number of enquiries about the vacant roles.

Of the seven appointments, five are already on the road and the other two are expected to start driving on Monday.

There has also already been some interest from people who are eligible to drive with this new change in minimum age.

On Tuesday this week, 18 bus services were put back into the scheduled timetable.

Environment & Infrastructure president Lindsay de Sausmarez said she was glad that the measures E&I had instigated were taking effect and bus services were now starting to be restored.

‘We know the importance of maintaining a good level of bus service and as soon as we saw the difficulties in recruiting drivers and the impact that was having on services, we met with CT Plus and began to put in place solutions to attract both resident and non-resident bus drivers,’ she said.

‘Bus passenger numbers increased very significantly between 2013 and 2020, and although they were adversely affected by lockdowns and Covid border measures, passenger numbers rebounded fairly strongly as measures eased.

‘It is critical that the level of service remains good so that it can continue to be a viable option for the travelling public.

'The more people who use the buses, the more we reduce traffic on our roads, pressure on parking infrastructure, air pollution and carbon emissions, while also improving the efficiency of our transport system for all road users.’

The problem came to light earlier this year, with about 20% of weekday services cancelled for the last three months.

Despite the reinstatement of 14 services, more than 40 services were still cancelled yesterday, and it is unclear exactly how many bus drivers CT Plus has.

The minimum driver age change was made with the support of Policy & Resources and allows people aged 18, who have held a full category B licence for a minimum of 12 months, to apply for vacancies within the local public transport industry.

This now mirrors the minimum age for driving a bus or coach in the UK.

In addition to assisting with the recruitment of drivers to the public bus service operated by CT Plus, this change in legislation should benefit the public transport industry as a whole, including other bus/coach companies and taxis.

Previously the minimum age was 21 years to drive a bus, and 20 years for a taxi or private hire car.