UK North buses taken off the road

Bus news: you wait all year for some then two stories arrive together.

The BBC is reporting that, following the horrible death of a sign-writer in Rusholme last month, UK North/GM Buses have been investigated by the North West Traffic Commissioner Beverly Bell.

She concluded that she couldn’t be sure that their drivers had been properly trained. The result must be something of a precedent: the company’s buses have been banned from Manchester’s roads over the Christmas period.

As anyone who’s ever used a UK North will testify, it does sometimes feel like you’re putting your life at risk when you step on board their runaway red buses.

The report also revealed something else about UK North: 100 of its 130 drivers are Polish. The hearing was told that many had a poor understanding of English.

I hope the ‘punishment’ period - from today until January 2 - will be used to retrain drivers.

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I have ridden on a UK North bus lots of times and have had no problems.
They are a good compnay, cheap prices too! Bring them back!

I also enjoy travelling UK North. I believe that all this is being got up in order to give Stagecoach - who have “friends in high places - a free run.

Walter C

stagecoach and finglands are upto there old tricks again

i have travelled on UK North and found the drivers rude, last time i travelled the driver was happy to keep slamming his brakes on jolting everyone about the bus, im glad they are off the road and if they do come back then it will be rest assured that the busses will be mechanically sound putting everyones mid at rest about them being unsafe, because the commissioners will oversee the upkeep of the busses before they go back on the road.

i personally thought UK north busses were much better than magic or finglands there was always like 3 at a time and there was space on them unlike magic.

I was on a UK North bus going to Didsbury on Wilmslow Road, the driver was driving like he was in the “Whacky Races ” breaking hard going through traffic lights on red and I noticed also the driver was on a mobile phone whilst driving, and to top it all was drinking from a can of something, where are the police when you need them some of the drivers have a poor understanding of basic English.
I will neaver travel on a uk North Bus again and you should give this serious consideratiion. Tony

i bought a year bus pass for uk north at the begining of term! what am i supposed to do now?

I have travelled on UK North buses and never had a problem. Is this another ploy of the BIG BOYS (mainly stagecoach)with friends in high places to rid another smaller bus company off the road.

Having used this bus company for many years, it seems to me a conspiracy with the big boys pulling the strings.

I have used these buses and had no problem. Is this another ploy of stagecoach to rid the roads of smaller companies again.

Commissioner Beverly Bell.

â€œShe concluded that she couldnâ€™t be sure that their drivers had been properly trained.â€

I have never had a problem when using UK North buses.

Why is it the fault of UK North, all drivers whether British or otherwise have to be trained to obtain a licence to drive passengers about. All at UK North have now lost their livelihoods.

Something doesnâ€™t smell quite right.

Perhaps B Bell has come back as a reincarnation of Robert Maxwell.

H Palmer

Some of the drivers are British and hardworking. They have lost two weeks pay just before Xmas. None have been notified as to who is the administrators. How would you like to be treated this way?

i have worked at uk north for 5 years i was an inspector for a year all the polish drivers could speak english most of the polish drivers have been driving
more than 3 years these are safer drivers than some of the stagecoach drivers how have been driving buses that have just learned how to drive
i have got no job now (now u will see overloaded buses in manchester )

all the drivers got trained propely they got asset then after 5 weeks route
learning got asset again all the drivers are fully qualifed (mrs bell shut the company down for no reason)
when vosa inspected are buses on lever street we didnt get any pg9 stagecoach got 19 this is to prove that all buses get faults

My son started driving Uk North buses just before Xmas and just as he was about to receive his first pay they were closed down. Noone has bothered to contact him.Who are the administrators?This is a nasty business. This is not the way to treat hardworking employees

Having watched the recent BBC programme “Are we there yet” on the sad state of buses in the UK , (especially Manchester) I think that UK North Buses should be taken off the road for good ! Most of the drivers ,it seemed, were Polish and couldn’t speak English !!!!!!

I would like to say at Uk North Buses are cheat Bastards. JP Travel is a brillant better company to work for

I liked UK North buses, as a driver i was on the rob, at least 60 quid a day and for a cockney thats cool. as for the company hahahaha what goes around comes around.

UK NORTH AND GM BUSES ARE A LOAD OF CRAP.

GOOD WORK BEVERLEY YOU DESERVE A DRINK, WHAT IT TO BE

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Are Stagecoach and Finglands up to their old tricks again? » Mancubist: Life is good in Manchester
[...] So suggests Lees, in a reply to the news that UK North have been taken off the road amid safety fears. My post has attracted 10 comments so far, including: i personally thought UK north busses were much better than magic or finglands there was always like 3 at a time and there was space on them unlike magic. [...]

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