Driver Breaks

[Flange Squeal]

Firstly, I realise this thread is to do with the Coronavirus, but I’ve put it here as I didn’t know how much it’d get noticed in the Coronavirus section amongst the mostly generic or rail threads. Obviously a mod can move it if they feel the need.

I was just curious to hear from any drivers about how the Coronavirus has affected their breaks. Certainly drivers at many companies will have their breaks at bus stations where there are facilities for them (even if just a staff room with tables/chairs and a microwave), but some bus companies do driver changeovers in town centres where there are no dedicated facilities for them. Drivers will be expected to use public toilets in the likes of shopping centres, and sometimes the bus operator may also have an agreement with local shops/cafes allowing drivers to use their facilities if making a purchase.

I was wondering if any drivers who maybe have this as part of their working life could tell me how current events have affected this - particularly during lockdown where shops and public facilities were closed? Certainly on a local basis to me, I know Arriva drivers have had driver shuttle buses running between a large town where they frequently had breaks at, and the town their depot is located to facilitate breaks.

 

[richw]

Our duties were amended to take breaks in cornwall where the company has their own facilities

 

[Stan Drews]

Our duties were amended to take breaks in cornwall where the company has their own facilities

Where did you used to take breaks? ...Devon?

 

[richw]

Where did you used to take breaks? ...Devon?

At locations that didn’t have Company Owned facilities in Cornwall. All duties were realigned to have breaks in locations that have owned facilities within cornwall

 

[TitanMike]

In London, Arriva have been providing spare buses at certain meal relief locations to enable social distancing.

 

[Pat1105]

In Oldbury, the toilet facilities etc have been closed and drivers have caught buses back to West Bromwich where there are toilet and hand washing facilities.

 

[MotCO]

Both Stagecoach and Metrobus services passing Orpington Station now seem to have staff changeovers supported by a ferry bus. In the past, crew used to have to catch service buses. The changeovers seem to be more frequent than pre-Covid, so I don't know if the ferry buses are being used to allow staff to make use of facilities at their respective garages (Bromley Common and Green Street Green), rather than avail themselves of services at the station or elsewhere.

 

[Eyersey468]

East Yorkshire have been providing buses for drivers to take breaks on as have Stagecoach in Hull.

 

[matt_world2004]

Our duties were reduced to three hours and no breaks.

 

[DJ_K666]

All our changeovers are done in Rugby town centre where there is a dedicated rest room. They have tried to do social distancing and altered the duties to have the right number of people in there.

 

[anthony263]

In pontypridd we have a bus come up empty from the depot and sit in the bus station all day as the toilets are back open