Stagecoach Manchester is cutting afternoon X92 express services because of passenger abuse towards drivers, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Passengers had reportedly threatened drivers and tried to open the doors and jump out, after mistaking the X92 Express, which skips all 34 stops between Piccadilly and Stockport, for the 192, which stops at every one.
The company told CBW that it had deployed inspectors as a result of the problems faced to advise people in advance that the X92 was an express service, but the problem persisted.
A Stagecoach spokesman said: “Due to operational difficulties, service X92 will be revised from January 28, 2018, with afternoon journeys withdrawn and replaced by journeys on service 192. Morning journeys on the X92 will continue to run as normal and are unaffected.
“We have made these changes as a result of ongoing verbal abuse directed towards our drivers by passengers who pressure them to stop at stations in which the X92 does not serve.
“Scheduled journey times for the regular 192 service are longer than the X92 due to the time it takes passengers to alight the bus at additional stops, however, congestion and delays along the route beyond our control mean journey times are currently similar. The changes we are making will mean passengers travelling in between Manchester and Stockport will see an increase of four journeys in the afternoon peak.”
