It'd be pretty frustrating for a bus driver driving one of those slugs.
Once, the boot was on the other foot. I recall that there was a period of
about a decade after the end of Sydney's trams where a lot of the
government bus drivers were ex tram drivers and they drove the buses like
the former Sydney trams were driven - quite "vigorously". So, with the gear
changes and directional changes now added to the equation, you were tossed
and jerked about like a pea in a tin. It took many years to quieten down, I
guess in line with the ex trammies gradually retiring.

With the development of operational contracting I see the growth of
familiar old private bus practice like letting passengers get to a seat
before taking off etc. It will be interesting to see how driving styles
develop with the advent of electric buses. They have to be driven in a very
specific way in order to maximise the use of regen. I remember some of the
early electric bus trips at Sydney Airport where the driver hadn't overcome
the habit of relying on the brake pedal, especially without a retarder, and
would come flying into stops with both the regen and footbrake kicking in,
leading to the alighting passengers being plastered against the windscreen
if they weren't holding on.

Tony P

On Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 8:02:30 AM UTC+11 Matthew Geier wrote:

> It will be industrial action - ie drivers not answering their phones to

> take extra casual shifts, so shortage of staff.

>

>

> Transdev stuffed up Pyrmont IR wise. For years it was a non union

> operation and then they pushed too hard and then majority of the staff

> went and joined the RBTU to get professional bargaining support. I don't

> think Transdev has forgiven them.

>

> Randwick is probably a mix of non union, TWU as well as RBTU members.

> (They specifically targeted bus drivers, and 'private' bus operators are

> TWU not RBTU in NSW).

>

> I expect the Randwick depot is being paid more for being on non union

> sanctioned contracts. I don't know if this sort of behaviour is legal or

> not, but it happens.

>

>

>

>

> On 12/10/21 21:51, Andrew C wrote:

> > Operational issue or justified industrial action by driver's?

> >

> >

>