Well, where do I start. I’ve been told to say this is meant without prejudice to protect myself from any incrimination, even though I believe I should say what I feel. Manda was away with the car today, staying at a friends overnight. I decided it would be a great “adventure” for Abbie & me to take the bus into Helston, to Tesco & get bits for tea etc. & arrive back home well before tea time.
We were all set to take the 13:45 bus from Kuggar into Helston. We waited at the bus stop until 2.pm and then I rang Truronian to find out if the bus was late. I was told that the bus was already in Mullion after stopping at Kuggar. I said the bus must have been early and was told in no uncertain terms that the bus driver WAS at Kuggar ON TIME. Funny how my watch was suddenly reading the wrong time!! Perhaps it was wrong of me to assume that the driver missed out the Kuggar stop to make up time as our stop rarely has passengers waiting. Needless to say, my daughter was very upset that her “bus adventure” was over before it had begun (she is only three).
We went home & looked on the bus website for the next opportunity to get to Helston. 2 hours later we went back to the bus stop, 15 mins early, just to make sure, and waited in the cold wind for the bus to arrive. 10 mins AFTER it was due a school minibus from the same company drove past & the driver asked where we were going. Apparently the bus we were expecting had terminated at Mullion (not even mentioned on the online timetable) but he could get us as far as Coverack.
This was the opposite direction to Helston but Abbie was so excited about getting the bus I agreed. Once dropped at Coverack we were told to wait for 10 mins to get the bus that went directly to Tesco in Helston. Half an hour later the bus arrived, just in time because Abbie was starting to feel the cold. If I was able to get us back home I would have done it there and then. We arrived at Tesco almost an hour later (we didn’t mind several detours as Abbie enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights & even managed a 15 minute doze!!).
Eventually we got to Tesco & did our small shop (we only had a rucksack to put things in.). When we left the shop we saw our bus at the stop. Quickly getting Abbie out of the trolley we ran towards the bus. I was struggling, Abbie under one arm, the rucksack under the other. I was shouting to the bus driver “WAIT, WAIT!” (much to the amusement of the 20 or so people at the stop) and as we got to the doors of the bus it drove away, leaving us stranded.
Now, far be it for me to judge, but the driver had plenty of time to see us struggling towards the bus, but pulled away anyway. So there we were, stuck in Helston, with Abbie very tired and very cold, asking why the bus didn’t stop for us. If it hadn’t been for my brother-in-law’s generosity driving 45 mins out of his way, we would have been stuck outside in the freezing cold for over an hour.
Needless to say, I have complained to the bus company, but I wont hold my breath as I have heard from at least 4 other people who have expressed their grievance to the said company, without even a reply. I think the people who preach that public transport should be a priority should try and use such a “service” (used in a loose sense) in an area such as ours.
I apologise to you, the reader, for such an outrage, but I felt that such an awful experience, should be shared to see if anyone else has had such appalling service from someone having the monopoly of public transport in such a rural area.
