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Polite passage
Page 68
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A recent issue of Coras Iompair Eireann's twice-monthly staff newspaper reminds employees that they are eligible for a five per cent commission on revenue gained from any new passenger business they secure.
I'm not quite sure how the scheme works — does one identify the new business numerically by any gains in passenger carryings? Or do they perhaps know their regulars so well that the platform staff can submit a named list of first-time travellers and claim five per cent per knob?
Anyway, it conjures up a picture of smiling, cautiously accelerating drivers and helpful conductors actually competing for the favour of passengers. Rather like the recent Eric Sykes TV programme which, with its homely bus decor, musical "requests" and family refreshments en route was not wholly farcical in its hints of what was lacking from regular bus services.
It reminds me of the old horsebus story. Apparently drivers on some services were allowed to keep the fares of passengers who rode on the box beside them. In summer, with no shortage of outside passengers, these unfortunates were liable to bear the brunt of the driver's ill-will; but in winter it was a different story, and drivers were all sweetness and light in their attempts to attract travellers out into the cold.