Caithness driver comes to tourist's rescue
A TOURIST has thanked a Caithness bus driver who saved him from being stranded in the Far North.
Belgian traveller Raymond Maxwell faced his holiday ending in disaster when he was told he was not allowed to bring his bicycle on board a coach from Georgemas Junction to Inverness.
However, local minibus driver Andrew Budge (30) came to his rescue and drove him south.
The incident took place on Tuesday, May 24, when atrocious weather forced ScotRail to cancel train services to Wick. It was highlighted by Mr Maxwell in a letter to the John O’Groat Journal.
ScotRail hired Newtonhill firm John Budge Mini Buses to transport passengers from the town to Georgemas Junction. They were then picked up by a coach from Inverness bus firm D. & E. Coaches.
However, Mr Maxwell said that he was unable to get on the coach with his bicycle as the driver indicated he had two bikes already on board.
Mr Maxwell said that he was astonished at the attitude of the driver who seemed intent on leaving him behind.
“I pointed out that I had a reserved bike and train ticket which I purchased in Belgium,” said Mr Maxwell. “However, he said to me that he would not be taking my bike as there was no room available.” Still at Georgemas Junction and seeing what was going on, Mr Budge stepped in and offered to take the tourist to Inverness.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Budge said that if he hadn’t taken him south, Mr Maxwell would have been left stranded with nowhere to go.
“I saw that there was an issue between Mr Maxwell and the bus driver,” he said. “I pointed to the driver that he had a reserved bike and train ticket. But the driver said he couldn’t fit his bike on board.
“I offered to take Mr Maxwell and his bike to Inverness as it wasn’t much trouble for me. I knew that he was due to fly from Glasgow Airport the next morning and if he couldn’t get to Inverness that night his travel plans would be ruined.”
He added: “I couldn’t just leave him stranded in the middle of nowhere as it was after 6pm and there were no trains scheduled to come.”
Mr Maxwell has travelled to the Far North annually for the past four years on a cycling holiday. He said he could not thank Mr Budge enough for what he did for him that night.
“It could have been a really miserable end to a holiday at Georgemas Junction were it not for his intervention,” he said. “I think he deserves public congratulations for the good name he has given to the town.”
A spokesman for ScotRail said that they had no record of receiving a complaint from the Mr Maxwell but would respond directly to him.
He explained extreme gales and torrential rain caused the route to be blocked by fallen trees and other debris.
He added: “Replacement transport was provided, but ScotRail does make clear that cycles cannot always be carried on buses.”
D & E Coaches general manager Norman Gollan said it was unfortunate that Mr Maxwell was unable to board the coach but defended his driver’s decision to leave him off.
“We run services at our company where bikes have to be pre-booked before boarding. If the gentleman had a pre-booked ticket to transport his bike on the train, then it was up to ScotRail to make sufficient arrangements to take the gentleman to ?Inverness.
“Even if there is someone who turns up with a bike who hasn’t a pre-booked ticket, we will take it if there is enough room. Unfortunately in this case there wasn’t.”
He added: “Cyclists have to bear in mind that coaches picking up passengers from Georgemas Junction have to stop at train stations all the way down and the driver has to leave room for passengers’ luggage at these stations.”