A SECOND day of strike action by Bradford bus drivers was set to cause "massive disruption" again in the city today.

Yesterday, only 15 out of 177 First Bus vehicles were out on Bradford's roads as about 380 drivers walked out as part of a 48-hour industrial action.

The action prompted anger among many people in the city who struggled to get to hospital appointments, work, school, and university.

One man said there was "absolute chaos" at Bradford Interchange during rush-hour, while another described the strike action as "atrocious". There were also snaking queues at many bus-stops in the city, while others opted to use taxis.

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A spokesman for First said the walkout had caused great"inconvenience".

He added that tickets for yesterday and today would still be honoured after the action - which started at 1.30am yesterday - has finished.

Unite union members say the primary reason for the action is the transfer of part of the 576 bus service from Bradford to Halifax which it says has cost eight jobs. But First denies there has been any job losses and said it was currently recruiting drivers.

Mohammed Taj, Unite branch secretary, said up to 250 people had joined the picket line at the First Bradford depot in Bowling Back Lane yesterday, including Bradford West parliamentary candidates George Galloway and James Kirkcaldy.

He said he was "overwhelmed" with the support from the public.

"It went very well," said Mr Taj. "As far as we are concerned we are absolutely rock solid.

"There is no indication by management for any progression in talks. We will have to wait and see if common sense prevails.

"Eighty-nine per cent called for strike action. We were right to call the action."

He added: "We were overwhelmed by the support. Lots of people are backing us. People were pipping their horns."

A First spokesman said the company was running a skeleton service of 15 buses in Bradford, covering main routes.

He said the strike action was causing "massive disruption", and added: "We would like to bring the dispute to a close as quickly as possible.

"It is the inconvenience. We want to make sure bus travel is an option that people look to. There is a risk that disputes like this could change people's travel habits."

He added: "We are happy to give reassurance that there will be no closure to the depot and no people will lose jobs."

A spokesman for Bradford Chamber of Commerce said: "It’s unfortunate that negotiations between the two sides have broken down and that things have come to a point where there is no other option for the union than to strike.

"Some people will no doubt be inconvenienced by the strike and so we hope the differences will be resolved soon – and that can only happen if the two sides are speaking to each other."

The It's A Trap! comic book shop in Market Street, Bradford, was closed yesterday due to the bus strike, according to a sign in the window.

Colin Gornall, chief executive officer at Age UK Bradford, said: "From our point of view, anything like this has a knock-on effect for older people.

"There is an impact on carers, an impact on our volunteers who provide key services for people who are isolated or in need of befriending.

"It even impacts on our own staff. We are a charity and we have had to put people in taxis so they can run our shops."

One man, who did not want to be named, said he had walked for one hour and 15 minutes to get from his home in Bierley to an appointment at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

But he added: "I understand why they are striking. If the company gets what it wants they will cut drivers, buses and conductors."

A 21-year-old woman who is studying in Bradford said: "I have got exams coming up and I would rather be at home revising, not wasting time waiting for a bus service."

But she added that staff at Bradford Interchange had been very helpful and were looking after customers and any queries they had.

Another said: "The public transport users are the ones that have suffered from this strike."

Meanwhile, private hire firm Local Cars has been picking people up from bus-stops and dropping them off in the city centre, charging £1.50 per person.

Manager Kaz Shazad said: "We have had a really good response from the public and lots of people have used that facility."

A spokesman for TransDev Keighley said: "Transdev Keighley buses on routes 662, 696, 697, 845, 846 and 847 will run as usual throughout the First strike action. We will also provide extra buses on these routes should we be busier than usual."

Bus services which WILL NOT be running:

School services which WILL NOT be running:

  • 964 Heaton - Beckfoot School
  • 965 Beckfoot School - Bradford Interchange
  • 992 Clayton Fields Works - Thornton Grammar School
  • 994 Odsal - Thornton Grammar School
  • 995 Clayton Fields Works - Thornton Grammar School
  • 997 Clayton Fields Works - Thornton Grammar School
  • 998 Clayton The Avenue - Thornton Grammar School
  • A2 Great Horton Road - Belle Vue Boys Sch. 
  • A4 Bradford Westgate - Belle Vue Boys Upper School
  • A6 Contract
  • A7 West Bowling Parkside Road - Belle Vue Girls Sch.
  • A8 Bradford Westgate - Belle Vue Girls Upper School
  • A9 Clayton Fields Works - Belle Vue Girls Sch.
  • A17 Bradford Interchange - St. Bedes R C Upper School
  • A41 Oakenshaw New Works Road - Tong Upper School
  • A42 Laisterdyke Leeds Road - Tong Upper School
  • A43 Horton Grange Road Legrams Ln - Tong Upper Sch
  • A44 Springmill Street Ripley Street - Tong Upper School
  • A46 Bradford Interchange - Tong Upper School
  • A47 Barkerend Road bottom - Tong Upper School
  • A48 Tong Upper School - Bradford Interchange
  • A49 Smiddles Lane - Tong Upper School
  • A52 The Samuel Lister Academy - Manningham Lane
  • A56 Bradford Westgate - The Samuel Lister Academy
  • A60 Greengates - Beckfoot School
  • A61 Wrose Westfield Lane - Beckfoot School
  • A63 Toller Lane - Beckfoot School
  • A66 Manningham Lane Oak Lane - Beckfoot School
  • A67 Wrose Westfield Lane - Beckfoot School
  • A80 Clayton Fields Works - Dixons Allerton Academy
  • A81 Dixons Allerton Academy - Toller Lane Fairbank Road
  • A86 Appleton Academy - Bradford Interchange
  • B1 Thornton Grammar School - St. Bede's R C School
  • B2 Odsal - St. Bedes R C Upper School
  • B4 Killinghall Road Leeds Old Road - St. Bede's School
  • B5 Cottingley - St. Bede's R C Upper School
  • B6 Greengates Ashfield Road - St. Bede's R C School
  • B7 Thornton Grammar School - St. Josephs College
  • B8 Huddersfield Road - St. Josephs R. C. College
  • B12 Odsal - St. Bede's R C Upper School
  • B14 Greengates Ashfield Road - St. Josephs College
  • B15 Killinghall Road Leeds Old Rd - St. Josephs College
  • B18 Wibsey St. Helena Road - St. Josephs College
  • B22 Buttershaw - St. Bedes R C Upper School
  • B23 Clayton - St. Josephs R C College
  • B25 Buttershaw - St. Josephs R C College
  • B48 Wilsden Main Street - Beckfoot Upper School

Any service which is run by a dedicated Yellow school bus will go ahead.

Bradford depot also run some services into neighbouring areas, and these services WILL NOT be running:

• In Halifax & Calderdale services 625, 626, 627, 681 and 682
• In Huddersfield service X6
• In Leeds services 670, 671 and X6

Services not affected by the bus strike include:

72 (run by Leeds Bramley depot), 363 (run by Huddersfield depot), 508, 571 and 576 (all run by Halifax depot), X63 (run by Huddersfield depot).

First also hope to run a limited service on key corridors in Bradford, including Bradford Interchange to Bradford Royal Infirmary and Manningham Lane.