Marion Gauthier, edited by Manon Fossat 1:20 p.m., September 3, 2021

In the Bas-Rhin, the buses of 23 lines have been at the depot since Thursday, for lack of drivers to drive them.

As a result, more than 900 students are deprived of transport and are looking for solutions to get to class.

A call was even launched to find retired drivers who can temporarily resume their activity.

No less than 900 pupils are completely deprived of buses in the Bas-Rhin and 900 others have modified bus timetables.

And these transport problems are not linked to a strike, but to a shortage of bus drivers.

Indeed, the Fluo Grand-Est transport network soberly explains that it has encountered "recruitment difficulties".

Result: the 23-line buses remained at the depot on Thursday and Friday morning.

"We live from day to day"

Hundreds of students therefore find themselves without a solution, and others, who can change their route, have meanwhile been late for the start of lessons.

Rural areas are particularly affected by this shortage, forcing parents to organize last-minute carpools.

In Surbourg, around forty children found themselves unable to go to their high school in the nearest town two days before the start of the school year. 

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The mayor, Olivier Roux, like his constituents, was not warned until Tuesday evening of the situation.

"There are parents who take leave, we always find arrangements and solutions but to implement them it takes a little time and time has not been given to us. We live from day to day and we are dependent on the arrival of dropper drivers, ”he explains.

"An appeal has been launched by the region to the various mayors to see if retired drivers can temporarily resume their activity", continues the councilor for whom the frustration is great.

"A real global deficit"

Guest from Europe Midi, Franck Favre, vice-president of Medef Alsace, admitted having alerted the services of the prefecture several months ago.

"We are working with Pôle emploi, but today with the Covid and the health crisis, people are struggling to return to work and we have a real overall deficit in many sectors, especially in transport", he said. 

Some parents have asked for the establishment of communal shuttles, but the same problem of lack of personnel arises.

For students who have a train station nearby, the region must offer coupons early next week to allow them to take the train for free.

"This cannot last," says Olivier Roux, without having any information on a return to normal.