Broken bus schedule phone line frustrates transit users

Thunder Bays transit users continue to have some trouble planning bus trips because the phone numbers that are to provide scheduled arrival times aren't working.

"Its been fluctuating over the past year with up time I would say being about 50 per cent," said Jon Hendel, marketing analyst with Thunder Bay Transit.

Its Hendels voice you might hear on the line when the phone number fails to work properly.

"We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with your phone systems schedule predictions."

He added that Thunder BayTransit hopes to update the phone system but that probably wont happen for at least another year or two.

For transit users like Melissa Haley that isnt much of a help.

Haley, a drug store clerk, rides the bus daily and now relies on paper schedules, which she says are far less convenient.

"I've tried [the phone line] a few times, but it doesn't work so well," Haley said. "You never really get the times....you've just got to try harder, I guess, look different places to get the times."

In the meantime, Hendel says he hopes the current phone system will be running again in a few days.