Stagecoach admits to 'teething problems' on school route
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In a bulletin issued today, Wick High School revealed the transport issues children have been experiencing on the John O'Groats bus route recently.
A mum, who wished to be anonymous, contacted the paper to say her daughter was late during her first week at the school due to a bus that had broken down and then late returning home due to a driver being unclear of the route.
"Due to it breaking down she had to wait from 8.05am until 9.05am until it eventually turned up in Keiss," she said. "She got into school at 9.23am so was late for lessons. We were made aware it was broken down due to a friend texting another pupil – if it was pouring with rain they would have been drenched."
She added that the Stagecoach service was also late to pick her up from the school with the bus arriving almost 30 minutes late at 4.03pm "supposedly due to new bus driver not knowing the route". She said she was only made aware of the problem by phoning her daughter as she was late getting home.
In a statement regarding the matter, the divisional traffic manager of Stagecoach Highlands told concerned parents: “With the return of the school contracts in Caithness we have seen a number of teething issues on the Wick to John O' Groats route.
"We do have some new drivers on this route, and all have been route trained, albeit before the schools did return and it took a little longer than expected for these staff to bed in. The drivers involved have now received some further training to ensure there are no further delays to the service, and we will have the local revenue inspector monitor this closely over the next few weeks to ensure that the service is met.
The unnamed manager added: "I would like to offer my sincere apologies to all those affected and assure everyone that steps have now been taken to resolve this.”
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