Published: Less than 30 min ago
If there is train chaos at the weekend, there is a risk that the replacement buses may not be available on certain routes. Driver shortages and regulations can put a damper on the wheels – and the industry wants exceptions to the driving and rest time rules.
– Vehicles exist, but someone has to drive them, says Anna Grönlund, vice president of Sweden’s bus company.
There is considerable concern about the Swedish Transport Administration changing to a new and very comprehensive digital planning system during the night to Sunday. If it does not work in all parts, there is a great risk of canceled and delayed trains.
But in that case, buses should be able to cover the affected routes, some may think. However, it doesn’t really look like that.
According to the industry, a factor that makes it more difficult in crisis situations is the EU regulation on driving and rest time, which, among other things, regulates how long a bus driver can work without rest.
– It is clear that there must be rules for driving and rest times, there are for all road traffic, but when it comes to, for example, snow removal where you also experience difficult situations, there is an exception in the regulation. This means that you can make certain deviations from the regulations when there is a crisis situation, says Grönlund.
Longer working days
Sweden’s bus companies therefore want to see that bus companies are also given the opportunity to deviate from the regulations.
TT: Do you see any potential risks in introducing such an exception?
– No, we have relied on the exceptions that apply to, for example, snow removal and there, as far as I know, no increased risk of accidents has been seen.
TT: But can’t one claim that there is a certain difference between snow removal and passenger traffic?
– I think that clearing snow with large vehicles on roads with traffic is also a very difficult task and bus traffic is today the safest way to travel on the road.
Alderstigen vocational corps
Another problem is the lack of staff.
During the pandemic, many bus companies were forced to get rid of drivers. According to Grönlund, the companies dealing with tourist and charter traffic, which often run replacement buses, were particularly hard hit.
– And now that it has started rolling again, there is a lack of staff, there are simply no drivers, she says.
Even before the pandemic, the bus industry had problems with an aging workforce – four out of ten bus drivers are over 60 and large retirements await.
– We need to recruit young people, but we cannot do that in light of the regulations that exist today.
Risk of bus shortages
The rules for bus drivers impose restrictions on trained bus drivers. In short, it can be said that those who have not completed high school education to become a bus driver are not allowed to drive distances that exceed five miles until they are 23 years old.
– And then, for example, this type of train-replacing traffic falls away, says Grönlund, who wants the rules to be changed.
TT: If there are problems with the Swedish Transport Administration’s new system this weekend, then it could simply be that it is not possible to arrange replacement buses for all routes?
– Yes, answers Anna Grönlund.