Page 37 - Clarion February 2018

Steve Todd - On The Buses

A column of black smoke hanging over Bloxwich, for no apparent reason. Passengers waiting for the
a bus stop destroyed, the local Primary School Ludlow bus were told that the service would not
evacuated... A terrorist attack?. No, just another be operating due to the road conditions before the
Diamond bus contributing to Global Warming. door was slammed shut and the bus returned to
Apparently caused by 'An electrical fault' which is Kiddy having picked up on the opposite side of
probably true as the electrics would be faulty the road. I drove to Ludlow at about the same
having melted in the blaze... Luckily everyone on time with hardly a sign of snow or slush so there
board got off safely including one passenger with wasn't a problem. When those same passengers
limited mobility. True, this was a different make came to return from Kiddy later, they were told
and model to the other three which have suffered there was no bus due to the conditions and that
the same fate but they all had one thing in they should get a taxi(!) This was despite the day
common – the name 'Diamond' in big letters on having been sunny with no sign of further snow.
the sides. After a 'Full and Frank' discussion, the service
Perhaps Diamond drivers should give an airline was eventually operated and the passengers got
style safety briefing to boarding passengers. I can home. Only Diamond... On one trip to Worcester,
picture it now : 'Welcome aboard this Diamond a passenger noted not one but two breakdowns.
trip. There will be no on board catering service Given the number of these still occurring, I
which is probably a blessing given the cleanliness wonder if they are all coming out in sympathy.
of the vehicle. In case of fire please use the nearest One dark evening, a resident came across two
emergency exit... Don't ask me where they are as Diamond mechanics attempting to resuscitate a
this is my first day but no doubt you will find broken bus by the Medical Centre whilst turning
them when - sorry - if, the need arises. I hope you the air (very) blue with descriptions of their
will enjoy your trip with us today (although you colleagues at Kidderminster. They had attached a
probably won't)'. Readers should note that I have canister to a socket on the vehicle and appeared to
translated from the original broken English/Serbo be waiting for something to happen. They were
Croat/Ukranian (insert any other Eastern still waiting 20 minutes later – were they trying to
European language here) for the sake of clarity. pump it up?
The curse of the 'Hopton Triangle' has struck The Leader of Shropshire Council, Peter
again with yet another breakdown causing Nutting, attended the Cleobury Town Council
tailbacks towards Doddington and at least one meeting on the 8th of January and expressed
near miss with cars braking hard as they came surprise that the 2L service was so infrequent (!).
upon the unexpected queue. Apparently at one He said that whenever he attended meetings
point there were no fewer than FIVE police along the 2L route, there were complaints about
vehicles in attendance and my correspondent the service so we didn't disappoint him on this
expressed surprise that West Mercia Police owned occasion... He said he would take our comments
that many as we rarely see even one. When the back with him so we shall see if this makes any
stricken vehicle was eventually towed away, the difference.
road surface had been well lubricated as Diamond As far as Diamond are concerned, I can only
passengers will need to be if this goes on... repeat the immortal words of the late Terry-
Thick snow understandably bought a halt to Thomas 'You are a shower, an absolute shower!’
services for a couple of days before Christmas but Steve Todd
thin snow after Boxing Day had the same effect

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Cleobury Clarion - Page !37 - February 2018