Dirty buses and rude drivers could soon be a thing of the past, following the reported introduction of new contracts by the National Transport Authority.
Under the new measures, it's understood that Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus could lose up to five per cent of payments if customer service standards drop.
Bus drivers must be "helpful, courteous and polite" and drive the vehicles in a "smooth manner that doesn't unduly result in passenger discomfort" and reports that all customer queries made via Twitter must be responded to within one hour, according to the Irish Independent.
Queries received by email should be replied to within one day and on-street real time passenger information must be provided 98 per cent of the time, or payments will be withheld.
The public service companies must also ensure that all wheelchair ramps must work and buses and stations should be clean, while late services resulting in a missed connection will incur a €250 fine.
Regulations have also been introduced to deal with delays, with a clause stating that the first bus in the morning and last at night cannot leave one minute before, or five minutes after, the scheduled time or a €100 fine will be imposed.
