Stagecoach says 96 per cent of Chesterfield buses running

The firm has released a statement today after one driver claimed staff were facing abuse from passengers over the number of cancellations.

Stagecoach has blamed ‘challenges beyond our control’ after cancelling some of its services connecting Chesterfield with Brimington, Holme Hall, Clay Cross and other local destinations ‘for the foreseeable future’.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach Yorkshire said: “Figures for the last 4 weeks show that we were running over 96 per cent of services in the Chesterfield area."

“As is the case with many industries, we are facing a short-term staffing situation that is out of our control due to external factors.

“Our team are doing a fantastic job in the circumstances, and we are working hard to get the new drivers who are in our training pipeline on the road as soon as training and DVLA licencing delays allow.

“The vast majority of our customers have been very understanding and we thank them for their patience.

"However, any abuse of our employees who are delivering vital links in our communities is completely unacceptable.”

The Chesterfield driver, who asked not be named, said a job he used to enjoy has become ‘horrendous’.

"HGV firms are dangling the carrot of more money,” he said.

"Drivers can earn a lot more an hour and haulage firms are offering to put them through the tests as well.

"Senior managers at bus companies, and not just Stagecoach, are burying their heads in the sand about the long term future.”