COMMUTERS brace yourselves - a new breed of bus driver is about to take to the city's streets.

York Pullman, based in Exhibition Square, has teamed up with a London customer-care organisation to train current and new employees in the essential art of passenger care in the push to provide a more fuller service.

The company puts passenger care on a par with regular service and comfortable vehicles, and following investment in new vehicles for their Easylink and National Express routes they are now looking to instigate a new passenger care programme.

York Pullman has recently announced a rise in passengers on its routes in the city, with customer feedback highlighting the friendliness of the company's staff, and five Easylink bus routes running seven days a week.

Peter Lee, managing director of York Pullman, said: "We are keen to attract people who love working with people as well as people who love driving.

The most important aspect of our business is our customers."

Richard West, a spokesman for Equus, the customer-care firm providing advice with the new initiative, said: "The aim of our programme is to not only improve customer care but help the drivers feel they are helping the passengers."

Some of the points to be emphasised include greeting passengers with a 'good morning' and a 'goodbye', always making eye contact and acknowledging regular travellers.

Bus commuter Oliver Smith, 21 of Walmgate, a regular user of the Y17 service, was pleased with the current level of passenger care provided by York Pullman.

He said: "They're very friendly, they always seem to have a smile for me. I can't see why they need further improvement."

Michael McLaverly, from Bad Bargain Lane, also seemed pleased with the Y13 service he regularly uses at the weekend.

"I find drivers are extremely friendly and courteous," he said. "There is never a problem with the drivers. If only all of York's bus companies had drivers like Pullman."

Mandy King-Holme, of Tang Hall, was generally happy with the service.

"Most of them seem quite nice, you get the odd rude one though but generally they are fine."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.