Hundreds of bus drivers trained to help shortage

Image source, First West of England

Image caption, The drivers have been trained and passed their practical tests within the last 12 months.
  • Author, Lilly-Mae Messenger
  • Role, 大象传媒 News, Bristol

More than 220 bus drivers have been trained to help a regional shortage.

The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) has provided funding to help train and recruit new bus drivers for First Bus and other operators.

This was done using some of the 拢105 million secured by regional Mayor Dan Norris for a bus service improvement plan.

He said: 鈥淚 am building the sustainable West of England bus network residents deserve, and frankly, need.鈥

'Severe driver shortage'

Eighteen bus routes were cut in Bristol in the autumn of 2022 partly due to a shortage of drivers.

Mr Norris said: "Driving a bus is a really great job.

"But I鈥檝e always said one of the biggest challenges for buses right now is the severe bus driver shortage.

"That鈥檚 why I launched a big bus driver recruitment campaign and used funding to train up the next generation of West of England bus drivers."

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