The GNER taxi bus between Hampton and the station has been running for over a year now but I wonder how much longer they can continue. Whenever I see the thing it NEVER has more than 3 passengers on board so surely it can't be profitable.
More worrying still is the speed at which the drivers are now pushing those vehicles. I've followed a few lately and whilst my scooter will cruise at 65mph, these guys have flown/are flying past me on a regular basis. Last night was the worst I've seen so far. I followed the bus out of the sation and down Thorpe Road where the speed limit is 30mpg. Last nights bus was doing 45mph. As the bus isn't exactly quick off the mark, I overtook it as we joined the Nene Parkway and was soon up to my max cruising speed. Halfway between the Thorpe Road and Moat Hse roundabouts the bus shot past me at what I estimate to be 75mph+. It got worse. I was by now a few cars back as we joined the Soke Parkway where there is currently a 40mph restriction. I could see the bus puulling away from me so decided to try and catch it up but even at 65mph I couldn't.
Now I'm no saint and can and do break the speed limits every now and again (Last night for instance) and I'm sure the passenegers don't mind getting home a bit quicker than normal and the driver is obviously prepared to risk his licence and possibly job, but a company like GNER has a duty of care over it's customers and to me they look like they are ignoring this duty by ignoring the speed limit. What would happen if they crashed and somebody was badly injured or killed even and the driver is found to be at fault becasue he was speeding? Can you imagine the compensation claims and PR damage such an event would have?
The GNER minibus service is operated by Stagecoach (the local bus company). This would protect GNER as a company from liability.
However bar the first GNER of the morning and about 1/2 in the early evening, the Number 6 bus is cheaper and fairly reliable.
Not sure if Nat Express have a duty to maintain funding for the minibus service.
Perhaps GNER (Nat Express) should help sponser the number 6, if Stagecoach don't believe the route could run to extended times without financial help.