Carrier Qbuzz temporarily puts two extra supervisors at the Emmen bus station. In addition to the supervisors already present, the two are mainly concerned with the safety of drivers and travelers. This creates more control in both the buses and when boarding.
Qbuzz takes the measures due to the increased number of incidents on bus lines 73 (Emmen – Ter Apel) and 74 (Emmen – Stadskanaal). Last week a bus driver posted a story on Facebook. In it he reported that a passenger hit the windows and spit during the ride.
The incident does not stand on its own, reason for FNV regional transport to send a fire letter to the government, local authorities and Qbuzz itself.
In the past, additional safety measures have been taken before. For example, there is a separate shuttle bus for asylum seekers between Emmen and Ter Apel. But the evening shifts fall out of this line, so that the passengers intended for this bus step on the regular lines. Sometimes resulting in nuisance.
In addition, agreements were made about additional safety measures on the bus and at the boarding places. Drivers and trade union say they have been scaled up in the past period.
A Qbuzz spokesperson said he takes the worries very seriously. According to the transport organization, practice shows that these measures have unfortunately not been able to prevent the situation as the Qbuzz driver has experienced. “Of course, Qbuzz would have liked that differently. We will again talk to the parties involved.”
To support the drivers, Qbuzz has set up the direct contact between boas and drivers on 15 September. This was previously deleted.
Together with the municipalities of Westerwolde (Groningen) and Emmen, the Ministry of Justice and Security are responsible for the aforementioned shuttle bus between Ter Apel and Emmen. This shuttle bus is not driven by Qbuzz, but by another carrier. “Like FNV, Qbuzz also thinks it is important that journeys of the shuttle bus do not expire.”
According to earlier agreements, the bus runs until 2026. Whether that bus will continue to run in the future is not yet known. The Ministry of Asylum and Migration, responsible for the financing of De Lijn, cannot yet give a definitive answer to this.