Charters

Buses (with drivers) are hired out to groups and organisations. I’ve done a few charters, mostly taking school children to/from their schools and sport venues.

Yesterday, I drove one of the buses taking people to the Premier's Seniors Week Gala Concert held at the Entertainment Centre. I picked up 2 groups, one from a nursing home and one from a day centre for seniors and dropped them off at the Entertainment Centre. From there I drove to the Lee St bus parking area (next to Central Station). Then I (along with the drivers of the other buses, about 20 in all) waited for the concert to end (about 2 hours). I had time for a long coffee and a short nap. I returned to pick up the groups and returned them to where I had picked them up.

The bus I used was a low floor one with wheelchair access. The newer buses (and, I believe, all future buses) have wheelchair access. The one I drove had a ramp which was extended by electric motor. I tried it out at the depot where it worked but it didn’t when I was picking up the passengers. Luckily, none of the passengers needed it. The electric ramps are known to be temperamental. Many of the buses have manually deployed ramps. I believe all future buses will have manually deployed ramps.

With charters, we are given precise route instructions, “left at Parramatta Rd, right at Harris St”, etc. Sometimes the instructions are wrong. Yesterday, the instructions required me to turn right where there was a “No Right Turn” sign. I think this was a temporary change due to road construction being carried out. Nevertheless, I had about 30 seconds to consider the alternatives. I am somewhat familiar with the surrounding streets but I couldn’t remember enough detail to be sure a bus would fit down them. Technically, I should contact the Radio Room and let them sort it out. But that takes time. So I turned right.