Bus boss admits UK public are getting 'worst' service in 40 years due to driver shortage

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Paul Matthews of First Bus, boss of the West Yorkshire branch, said the service in Britain was the "worst" in decades, the blaming 'labour availability' amid crisis

A nationwide driver shortage and falling passenger numbers have been blamed on the bus crisis (

Image: Asadour Guzelian)

A bus patron has admitted that the service offered to the public was the "worst" in 40 years.

A nationwide shortage of drivers and falling passenger numbers have been blamed on the bus crisis which has resulted in cut routes, delays and cancellations.

Elderly people say they were left shivering in the cold and 'covering up' to cope with the extra waits at bus stops.

While the women told the Mirror they were walking home in the dark after the buses failed to show up.

Currently there is a vacancy rate of 9% for bus drivers in the UK and 15% for coach drivers depending on the transport agency.

The latest figures reveal a 20% drop in passenger journeys across Britain from pre-pandemic levels in 2018/19 - when services were already at their lowest since the 1980s .

An electronic sign at Leeds City bus station indicating service cancellations (

Picture:

Asadour Guzelian)

Paul Matthews of First Bus, boss of the West Yorkshire branch, told Leeds councilors last week: 'This is the worst quality of service that has been provided in my 40 years in the industry, due to labor availability."

On Friday, a Leeds bus driver told us he also thought it was the worst bus crisis in his 36 years behind the wheel.

Unite member Dave Neville points out cancellations on screen at Leeds City bus station, three out of 14 not running.

He said, "I'm proud of my job, but it's disheartening because I sympathize with the passengers here who sit and wait for an hour and 10 minutes instead of 10.