Stagecoach seem to be everywhere - but they dont care about the passengers. (Stagecoach)

Member Name: Kiada

Product:	Stagecoach
Date:	08/02/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: my bus routes reliable

Disadvantages: overpriced, dirty, bus drivers are usually rude

Stagecoach seem to be everywhere - and seem to have the same lack of thought, feeling and effort with regards to the customers that keep them afloat. The buses are generally very overpriced, which if you're on a tight income and cant afford driving lessons and to run a car, you're basically stuck with.

The drivers are often extremely passive and borderline rude. The amount of times whereby we've got to the door of the stationary bus at the stop, and hes basically shut the door on us and driven away at the last second (and taken great pleasure in doing so it seems) is countless. They've recently taken on a lot of polish and foreign people (which I have no problem with) but who can barely speak english, so it can be hard to convey your ticket requirements and destinations to them.

The buses I'm talking about are generally in the North-West. At the moment I live in Carlisle, but I recieve the same bad passenger service at my hometown in Kendal (North-West also). You occasionally get a rather pleasant and friendly driver, but the frequency of this is few and far between. The fare to get into town is usually £1.15, which multiplied for 2 people on a return journey - you're nearly £5 out of pocket before you've properly started. Might not seem much to some people, but for others (especially with the way things are at the moment) is really hard to keep on top of! Alternatively you can buy a 'MegaRider' for £9.50 which gives you a weeks worth of unlimited bus journeys within the Carlisle area.

The buses usually smells and are dirty. To their credit the buses are frequent and usually on time, especially on the route I'm on - but as I mentioned, everything else about the service is extremely lack lustre. If there were any other financially viable options that actually cared about the travellers I would choose them everytime.

Summary: If there was any other reliable and cost effective option, it would be taken.