As the North Manchester bus dispute continues, The ‘rogue bus service’ being be operated by Go North West is under investigation for serial Covid-19 safety failures and breaches of other vital safety regulations according to the Unite union.
Over 400 bus drivers have been on all-out (continuous) strike action since 28 February.
Earlier this month, Unite highlighted how Go North West’s ‘rogue bus service’ was operating dangerously overcrowded buses. In response, the company claimed it was a one off incident.
While taking strike action, Go North West bus drivers have been compiling a detailed dossier on all the safety failings of the ‘rogue bus service’.
The dossier details problems with the sub-contracted buses being operated by B and N Coaches, Connexions Buses, Edwards Coaches, Orion Travel, Red Rose, Selwyns, Swans, The Big Coach Company, The Travellers Choice and Tyrers Coaches.
The list of illegal activity was extensive and included: overcrowding and ignoring reduced capacity rules to prevent Covid-19 transmissions, allowing passengers to stand (often close to the driver), a failure to tape off seats around drivers, a complete absence of screens to protect drivers from Covid transmission and a failure to properly seal screens if they were in place.
Other non-Covid failures included: Many of the coaches were not accessible to disabled people and pose a danger for those with limited mobility, no ability to issue tickets, bicycles in aisleways and a lack of information that the services are being operated on behalf of Go North West.
The dossier was initially sent to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the North West Travel Commissioner. The DVSA has confirmed: “Your concerns have been forwarded to the appropriate Bus Compliance Unit for your area and the appropriate Regional Intelligence Unit for your area for further investigation.”
A Go North West spokesman said:
“It’s depressing to see Unite attempt to weaponise public health safety. If the union genuinely cared about passengers’ wellbeing, it wouldn’t call a strike in the middle of a pandemic and it would encourage its members to return to work.
People travelling by bus during lockdown are making essential journeys, and many of them are key workers. It is our responsibility to get them where they need to be and, with Unite insisting on taking indefinite industrial action, that means we have been obliged to bring in contractors. All sub-
In all cases, vehicles and drivers meet strict DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority) criteria and services are accessible by wheelchair users.”
Unite regional secretary Ritchie James said: “The scandal of Go North West’s dangerous ‘rogue bus service’ is finally being exposed.
“For three weeks Go North West has been operating its ‘rogue bus service’ without scrutiny, which has risked the health of bus passengers, their families and the general public in Greater Manchester.
“It is no surprise that Covid-19 rates in Greater Manchester, which were already high, are increasing when buses that have been flouting the transmission rules have been in constant operation in our communities.
“The DVSA investigation is welcome and will be able to nail Go North West’s lie that the previous incidents of overcrowding were one offs, when the truth is that they are flouting regulations across their ‘rogue bus service’.”
