[Ginga]

What follows is the only statement I can get out of @trentbartonlive regarding the rape that followed one of their passengers being ejected from one of their buses late at night (after being 20p short of a £5 fare): "Our drivers are well known for looking after people and there have been many examples of exceptional service by our teams, even including paying their own customers fares out of their own pocket. Sadly on this occasion this did not happen and our driver did not follow his training. The matter was dealt with through our disciplinary procedure within days of the incident last December"

[bb21]

Any linky to the incident?

[Ginga]

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/No...ail/story.html

Some not very happy posts on Trent Bartons Facebook page.

[trentside]

There's a story on the Daily Mail website.

[MCR247]

Tbh honest this doesn't seem like Trent Barton at all

(Don't take the statement to say that I don't think it was them, I'm just saying I'm surprised as it doesn't seem like something their drivers would do in my expirience!)

[ushawk]

Originally Posted by trentside

There's a story on the Daily Mail website.

The way that story is written is pushing the blame on the bus driver, basically saying its his fault the woman was raped basically. Stupidly written article to me, not as if the driver of the passengers knew what was going to happen.

Not just the driver who couldnt of been a bit more lenient - other passengers didnt help either.

[Badger]

I appreciate it's a sensitive topic, but really, drivers are expected to pay passengers fares out of their own pocket? It is terrible that this has happened, but blame the rapist, not the driver of a bus.

[WestCoast]

It's to be expected of the Daily Mail and the facebook mob though. Sure, in hindsight it would of been a very helpful gesture if the driver or other passengers had given the 20p, but people are increasingly mistrustful of others asking even for 20p. Sad but true unfortunately.

It was a case of wrong place wrong time for the poor victim. Shouting and screaming at Trent Barton is of no use. The rapist could well have attacked someone else and he is the only one to blame here - too many people forget that in cases like this.

[yorksrob]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

The rapist could well have attacked someone else and he is the only one to blame here - too many people forget that in cases like this.

Absolutely agree. Blame should be apportioned to where it belongs - the criminal.

[causton]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

It was a case of wrong place wrong time for the poor victim. Shouting and screaming at Trent Barton is of no use. The rapist could well have attacked someone else and he is the only one to blame here - too many people forget that in cases like this.

Totally agree!

However, one time the driver just put an excess down for what money I had when I was 20p short of a fare, had lost my day ticket, and it was the last bus of the evening... surprised they can't exercise discretion that way!

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by causton

However, one time the driver just put an excess down for what money I had when I was 20p short of a fare, had lost my day ticket, and it was the last bus of the evening... surprised they can't exercise discretion that way!

I am a little surprised at the lack of discretion and that details couldn't be noted down as it would be done on a train, but to blame the driver for the rape, as the facebook mob are doing, is much too far. I know a bus company near me tells drivers to avoid leaving vulnerable people behind if at all possible, and it seems that Trent Barton had a similar policy.

It serves as a stark warning to others in similar situations that you have to plan as best you can and try to carry spare change on your person in a safe place.

[Ginga]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18373422

[Paul Sidorczuk]

From what the story says, she had offered to pay £4.80 towards a £5.00 fare.

[IanXC]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

I know a bus company near me tells drivers to avoid leaving vulnerable people behind if at all possible...

Perhaps, given the experience of this operator other posters have mentioned, there is a question of how do you define vulnerable?

[tbtc]

Originally Posted by yorksrob

Absolutely agree. Blame should be apportioned to where it belongs - the criminal.

Yup - the Daily Mail hatemob conveniently forget this.

To be fair to TB, most businesses don't have the discretion to allow someone to pay less than the normal price. If you want to allow drivers that discretion then you have to expect more people at bus stops trying to get away with paying less than the full fare - what can you do?