10 days ago Sytral Mobilités announced a drop in the TCL network offer of up to 8% from November 7 until the end of the year.
According to a press release from Sytral Mobilités, 300 bus drivers are missing. To date, 220 bus drivers and 55 tram drivers have been hired. At the same time, it is learned that 100 drivers have entered training and should be operational by the end of the year.
Until further notice, the network offer is revised at the basis of the forty bus lines affected. Line C9 will be limited and will run from Hôpitaux Est to Gare Part-Dieu Vivier Merle, and line C14 from Hôtel de Ville Louis Pradel to Les Sources. The S11 line will be interrupted. Absenteeism, COVID and retirements are all factors explaining this shortage, in addition to the incentive of politicians to take transport and ambitions to densify supply.
Faced with this shortcoming, network manager Keolis has to spare no effort. Present at the recruiters’ village held in Place Bellecour last October, he was also present at the conference “Ça match! Youth & business: we dare to meet” organized on November 8 by MEDEF at the Groupama Stadium. Additionally, Keolis is a signatory to the Miles Charter and supports the sponsorship by donating €500 to employee sponsors, subject to conditions.
Despite this crisis, which adds to the many malfunctions that have occurred recently, a representative of the press service confided to us that she is optimistic thanks to the hundreds of weekly applications that are pouring in before adding “to be a bus driver, you need know-how, the taste for public service, not to mention compliance with safety standards”.
