Bus information hardly 'real' time

AT 3.15pm last Thursday I arrived at the Hill Rise, St Ives, bus stop - now electronically-enabled to inform me of the expected bus arrival times. Sure enough it said 55 Stagecoach service, due at 3.24, was as expected from the timetable. At exactly 3.24,

AT 3.15pm last Thursday I arrived at the Hill Rise, St Ives, bus stop - now electronically-enabled to inform me of the expected bus arrival times. Sure enough it said 55 Stagecoach service, due at 3.24, was as expected from the timetable.

At exactly 3.24, the information line disappeared from the display but no bus arrived.

A senior citizen who had been at the stop before me then announced that she had been there since 3pm and the scheduled 3.04 bus had not arrived either. When the 45 bus arrived, the driver informed us that the 55s were stuck on the A14 from Cambridge because of an accident.

Stagecoach cannot be blamed for road accidents, and we all hope that the guided busway will reduce the problems so caused. However Stagecoach and the county council (which is responsible for the signs) are completely wasting our money and our time if they cannot update the information in real time. Otherwise, please revert to cheaper printed timetables.

A pupil from the local school then joined us and, on finding that I had a car at home, asked: "Then, why are you going by bus?" Good question. Needless to say I missed my train and a business meeting as well. This is not the way to get me out of my car.

ROBIN WATERS

Audley Close

St Ives