First Bus to allocate one in four seats to each passenger

Bus operator First Bus has announced the capacity of its vehicles will be reduced by more than 75% due to social distancing restrictions.

From Monday drivers will count passengers on and off, and will not allow anyone to board once the new capacity has been reached.

The bus company confirmed around one in four seats will be made available for passengers to use on each bus.

Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First Bus in Scotland said: “Social distancing measures are being introduced across our buses this week to ensure the safety of our colleagues and customers.

“Our buses will be operating at a reduced capacity with around one in four seats available.

“We would ask for people’s patience during these challenging times as we adapt our service provision around the government’s guidance.

“Together we can all play a crucial role in getting the region back on its feet again.

“Travel advice is being shared across all our customer-facing communications channels and on signage across our buses.

“We have been working closely with our people and trade unions on the measures we are taking to enable social distancing for our colleagues and customers.

“We are also monitoring passenger data to provide double deck buses on the busiest journeys and have a limited number of duplicate buses ready to add to routes where appropriate to try and provide the best service possible for essential journeys.

“We have been in discussions with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government over the past few weeks and await further guidance on measures for services in Scotland moving forward.”

On its website, the firm says: “We continue to work with the Government and wider industry to ensure we are following the latest advice to keep our customers and staff safe on our buses.

“We recognise that buses play a significant role in many of our customers’ lives; in connecting you with communities and places of work. We remain focused on continuing to serve you, wherever and whenever it is safe and operationally possible for us to do so.

“Following on from Government’s publication of its ‘safer transport’ guidance for operators, we are finalising social distancing plans and will be introducing safe capacities across our fleet.”