School kids left stranded in rain by bus
SCHOOL children in Plymouth were left stranded in the rain, after drivers of over-crowded buses refused their fare.
Bus company First National told their drivers to refuse school pupils once buses reach full-capacity, after parents complained that the essential transporters were dangerously overcrowded.
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Bus service 808 and 809, a commercial bus-route that runs to Coombe Dean School, has been most affected, saying no to up to 15 school children who have then been stranded.
Ted Graham, from Peverell, has two daughters aged 12 and 17 who catch the bus from Peverell Park Road.
"My daughters were left in the rain on Thursday morning and my eldest is in sixth form, at a stage where schooling is really important."
Simon Newport, commercial director for First Devon and Cornwall, said: "We operate this service purely commercially. If an additional bus were to be provided, funding for it would need to be sought from the school or the council. We have asked them if they would be able to help, but they are not able to accommodate this request.
"We are keen to find a resolution to this problem though, and so we met the school last night. We sincerely apologise to any of our customers that are inconvenienced by this, but we are working hard with our partners to try and find a positive outcome."
74 Comments
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by lycom, houston
Saturday, December 13 2008, 9:51PM
“people suffer much worse in the world. this is nothing. THey've got legs haven't they. Cars are just obesity machines”
by kelv, Plymouth
Monday, December 08 2008, 11:12PM
“Perhaps it coming the time where the school should take over the funding for school transport and then arrange transport for the pupils to school. Parents then can contribute to the school transport fund where their children attend the responsiblity then becomes the schools. If the school is unhappy with service provided they will be able to change the operator under there own terms i.e provived a service for 200 pupils, or even get their own licence and vehicle as they do in the states.”
by tracy ashton parent coombe dean, plymouth
Monday, December 08 2008, 9:46PM
“it isn't the drivers fault, kev and davedo the best they can they have to answer to up above, my daughter left her bag on 8o8 with life saving medication in it (epi-pen) in the wrong hands it could kill someone the driver knew this and kept her bag safe until the following morning,they are great with the kids, not schools fault either they do thier best to get kids on buses, there's been times when my kids haven't managed to get on but i've taken them, as for walking unfortunately times change and i certainly won't let my daughter's walk anywhere it isn't safe,i live 6 1/2 miles from school and i 1st choiced coombe dean for all four of my children it's an outstanding school, that brings out the best in all, some of the blame should go tocity bus they used to run a 103 but took it off leaving kids to go with 808 809 so hence not enough room perhaps city bus management might re think it cost effective to bring back 103. or perhaps coombe dean could arrange that if a group left behind mornings bus monitors call school and mini bus go to collect them?”
by Parent, Peverell
Monday, December 08 2008, 7:08PM
“We all know that the bus drivers are great. There is no doubt about that. It's their bosses that are the problem.”
by School Driver, Plymouth
Monday, December 08 2008, 6:47PM
“It is a privaledge to take the school children to Coombe Dean Thanks for the kind comments guys”
by Tom, PLYMOUTH
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:17PM
“First Devon and Cornwall Service 808/809 is clearly a popular service for a popular school. This is indicated by the number of pupils that use the service to get too and from school.
May I also draw to the attention of the users of the service and pottential readers of the comments on this website that the 808/809 is not a 'school bus' instead the service is run commercially and hence must run at a profit. By laying on another vehicle it will not be commercially viable and the service will be running at a loss.
I also feel that it is worth noting that the drivers of the services have been acting in the interests of the students at all times and have ensured that all pupils wherever possible can get too and from school throughout the year.
There are far more important issues to raise concerning transport than that of the situation supposidly existing at Coombe Dean School
Well Done, First.”
by TOM (Bus Monitor), Coombe Dean School
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:11PM
“I Think that people should mind there own business and leave our school bus alone if they dont like the buses they should catch a differnt one we are so lucky to have 2 fantastic driver on our school buses if it was not for the 808-9 i would not be able to go coombe dean school so leave the 808-9 alone”
by Displeased, Plymouth
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:08PM
“First Devon and Cornwall Service 808/809 is clearly a popular service for a popular school. This is indicated by the number of pupils that use the service to get too and from school.
May I also draw to the attention of the users of the service and pottential readers of the comments on this website that the 808/809 is not a 'school bus' instead the service is run commercially and hence must run at a profit. By laying on another vehicle it will not be commercially viable and the service will be running at a loss.
I also feel that it is worth noting that the drivers of the services have been acting in the interests of the students at all times and have ensured that all pupils wherever possible can get too and from school throughout the year.
There are far more important issues to raise concerning transport than that of the situation supposidly existing at Coombe Dean School
Well Done, First.”
by Louis, Peverell
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:02PM
“A Popular bus for a Popular school!
Now leave these buses alone =]”
by singing in the rain, plymouth
Monday, December 08 2008, 3:54PM
“Living in Plymouth and going to school in Ivybridge my kids have to catch the bus ( no they are not obese ) Often they are left waiting for more than an hour for the X80 which is either late or just does not turn up at all. Last year Stagecoach ran a service through Ivy which was second -to- none and cheaper but withdrew its service as it was considered unfair competition to First! BRING BACK THE X45 FOR A CHEAP RELIABLE SERVICE.”