New bus operator keen to solve driver shortage

HCT Group has now signed the sale contract with Tower Transit UK for CT Plus and the deal is expected to be completed in the next few days.

Tower Transit is part of Australian transport provider and tourism operator Kelsian Group Limited.

The purchase will also see Liberty Bus in Jersey passed to Tower Transit.

Tower Transit HR director Harjit Sahota said passengers should not see any changes in the immediate future, with bus routes and tickets remaining the same and Puffin Passes still valid.

‘We are very excited to be here,’ she said. ‘We are looking forward to being part of the operation in Jersey and Guernsey.’

Driver shortages have been a big worry for islanders in recent months, with hundreds of services cancelled.

‘It is not just Guernsey that is suffering driver shortages,’ Mrs Sahota said.

‘Every bus operator across the world is finding it hard. The local team here have been working hard to recruit. There is no overnight solution. It’s a complex issue. We’ve experienced this across the group, in the UK and Australia.’

She said they had had some success with recruiting in London, so they were hopeful to take on more drivers here, but she would not go into details about how that might work.

‘It’s a complex issue and we need to understand the local challenges.’

CT Plus had previously put up wages and lowered the driver age limit from 21 to 18 to help widen the net for applicants – and that did fill some gaps.

But there were still 30 bus services cancelled yesterday. And that excluded the extra routes which were meant to operate over the summer months but have not done so at all this year so far.

Environment & Infrastructure is responsible for public transport in Guernsey.

The committee has been reassured that there will be no disruption to the current service as a result of the sale.

‘The delivery of good, reliable bus services is a priority for the committee,’ a spokesman said.

‘The new owner is a very experienced provider of public bus services internationally.

‘There have been some initial discussions with them and the committee looks forward to developing those further.’

CT Plus Channel Islands director Kevin Hart said: ‘We are confident that the transition will occur without any disruption to services and that there are no plans to change routes or tickets or branding. The aim is to maintain the existing teams in place with their extensive local experience and track record of success.’

Tower Transit managing director Samuel Ribeiro said: ‘The group are delighted to take over the reins of CT Plus in Guernsey and thank HCT Group for their commitment and their positive collaboration with the States of Guernsey over the years. Our aim is to maintain a business-as-usual approach whilst drawing on the experience and capabilities of the group in the future. We proudly serve several island communities in Australia and look forward to extending this high-quality service to the people of Guernsey.’