Passengers allege Red Bus team running unpunctual services

Red buses were introduced in the Kingdom to boost its public transport system, but many passengers allege that it has no way helped the system flourish. They attribute its “below-average performance” to unpunctual services coupled with poor customer care.

A good number of Red Bus customers are low-income workers, who don’t know where to complain about these unpunctual services, sources said. The sources also added that many a time the buses are stopping its services mid-way, forcing people to board other buses running in the route. When enquired, the customer care department of Bahrain Transport Company said they were not in a position to answer questions related to unpunctual services.

Even the Android app launched by the company, which helps in live tracking of the bus, often, goes defunct, testing the common man’s patience further. Many people, who depend on the bus service, are blaming the authority for its mismanagement. They allege that drivers cut the trip halfway, saying that their duty hours are done.

“While the authorities are pretty interested in running A1 service properly, they are never bothered about other services, namely service No.19, the only service connecting Manama, Salmabad and East Riffa,” Santhosh, a regular commuter on Manama-Salmabad route alleged.