As we reflect on , we thought it was only right to catch up with our magnificent team member James who is an avid traveller on the bus!
Can you tell our customers about your role at trentbarton James?
In the customer services team, I have a vital role by keeping our customers up to speed with the latest developments and how issues on the road are affecting our buses whether this be on our social platforms, email and website as well as answering the phone.
Having been with the company over ten years there has been some bumps in the road and whilst there have been many challenges along the way it is something that I take great pride in what I do.
Out of work, what do you like to get up to?
Believe it or not when I am not working, you will mostly find me riding about on the buses here, there and everywhere up and down the country! I also have a 15-year-old jack Russell cross Yorkshire Terrier named Honey who I take with me on the buses too.
I also like to strut my stuff on the strictly dancefloor doing some chachacha, quickstep and tango. This is also where I met my beloved Angie who I have been with for 16 years!
In one day, what is the furthest journey you have taken on a bus?
The furthest journeys that I have made in one day using “local” buses are to Bournemouth on the south coast taking in the sights of Leicester, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Swindon & Salisbury along the way. I have also managed to make it as far north as Alnwick in Northumberland in a day taking in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Whitby, Middlesborough & Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Geordie land - Whey Aye).
Across trentbartonland which would be your favourite bus to ride?
My favourite routes to travel on are the sixes 6.1 & the swift for the scenery through the Derbyshire countryside & Peak District.
The comet for passing through the industrial heartlands with connectivity onto other routes from Chesterfield & skylink as I travel a lot between Derby & West Bridgford to Loughborough & Leicester of which I have made 75 journeys & travelled 1,200 miles collectively on those brands.
If you could recommend an attraction / place of interest to our lovely customers, where would it be and why?
There are quite a few attractions across trentbartonland that I can recommend including the picturesque Black Rocks on the sixes 6.1 route at Steeple Grange where you can walk down the old High peak railway line to the Cromford Canal as well as Ashbourne on the swift route which is the gateway to Tissington Trail.
What has been your highlights for #catchthebusmonth..
My highlight for Catch the Bus Month must be when my mum & dad had visitors stopping with them from India (Bijou & Sumitra) who wanted to see the sights that Derbyshire has to offer so took them on the sixes 6.1.
We travelled through the Derwent Valley & Peak District to the delightful Bakewell where we sampled some of the famous pudding and a walk along the River Wye as well as a trip on the open-top Peak Sightseer.
Can you tell us your target for the end of the year?
Well last year on the buses I travelled the equivalent from East Midlands Airport to Surabaya in Indonesia but sadly I do not think that this is achievable this year due to many factors as my parents no longer have their caravan in Norfolk which I ventured many times to.
At this time of writing, I have travelled so far 5,800 miles on 40 different operators, and it is hoped by the end of the year I have done 7,000 miles which would be the equivalent to Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Take a look at James' amazing stats for the month of September!
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If you think you can beat this, please get in touch as we would love to hear from you! #CTBM