How come you know not enough BC eh?
SINGAPORE— Just a little over two weeks into the start of its
bus operations here, transport operator Go-Ahead Singapore has lost
a number of bus captains, and is engaging drivers on a short-term
contract basis from SBS Transit and SMRT Buses to cope.
The number of drivers who left is below 20, said a Go-Ahead
spokesperson in response to queries. The drivers left because they
had difficulties adjusting to the operator’s “interlining” model,
which requires bus captains to drive a number of different routes
during the week, instead of one single route.
Go-Ahead Singapore, which won the second contract put up
for tender by the Government under the bus contracting model, began
rolling out its services on Sept 4 in tranches. As of now, it
operates 24 services, with one more to begin next year.
From Wednesday (Sept 21), 30 SBS Transit bus captains will be
deployed at Loyang Depot for approximately two months to drive
Services 358 and 359. Ten SMRT bus captains will also be
deployed to help Go-Ahead.
The request was made by Go-Ahead, which said in a press release
on Tuesday that the attrition rate was “higher than expected”. The
company said 38 more bus captains are due to enter service over the
“coming weeks” and that it is sourcing for and recruiting more bus
captains.
Said the company’s deputy chairman David Cutts in the release:
“This move is about ensuring commuters continue to receive a
service they can rely on. I am grateful to SBS Transit and
SMRT Buses for their support and we will work towards recruiting
and training more Bus Captains so as to take care of the journeys
of commuters.
This along with the EB news may destroy GA's chances for
Seletar. I really worry about the outcome of the Seletar package
tender.