Direct comparisons are always tricky. Bus drivers of course can work more. 10.5 hours a day driving, but can be at "work" for 16 hours. No more than 5.5 hours driving without a break though. They can do 13 days without 24 hours off, this doesn't need to be a "day" If you finish at 13:59 on Monday, you can be back in at 14:00 on Tuesday and had the 24 hour rest.
An example, Blackpool Transport can use their drivers (if they wanted to) to drive buses 10.5 hours a day, then they can be a conductor on the trams for another 5.5 hours a day (work that isn't driving), they then need 10 hours off before doing it all again! And they can do that for 13 days, before needing 24 hours off.
Other non-driving work includes "driving" the inspectors around (that driving isn't counted in driving hours due to lack of passenger seats) or cleaning buses/coaches, or indeed any other of a multitude of tasks!
Of course it is more complex than that, but that is it in simplicity.
Before my new role as train driver I was a lorry driver with a coach licence for 15 years. I only used the coach part of my licence 15-20 at most in the UK. So I have absolutely no clue about Bus driving.
I have to say, if what you’re saying here is accurate, I’m totally in shock. I thought if there was a difference in coach or lorry driving, it would be more restrictive given the high volume of city driving and passenger count.
“Driving” conductors around isn’t counted to drivers hours due to the lack of seats..... however, if you drive your own car to a place that isn’t your main depot, as a HGV driver, then that time must be added to your driving hours, so why is a bus driver any different??
Double manning is even more complicated in the HGV world. You don’t have to start together but you must finish together once the digi cards are inserted into BOTH slots.
An example of this was one place I worked would only pay you if your card was in a tachometer, some lads needed a lift to a quarry 25 minutes away as a regular move to pick up their wagon (car parked at depot) not wanting to lose out on 25 minutes pay they would pop their card into slot 2 for the journey (quite rightly too, no one should have to work for free) then take it out and put it in their own lorry. In reality, this is perfectly safe and makes sense. In the world of mad EU legislation though, a complete no no and would give you and the temporary 2nd man major infringements.
Another note on HGV. you CAN drive for 10 hours twice a week and you CAN extend your workday from 13 to 15 hours 3 times a week. But that’s at YOUR OWN DISCRETION. You should never be rostered or planned to work like this. It’s to help you get home in times of disruption. Traffic planners always try to manipulate drivers into using time which is not theirs to use. One of my major bugbares.