National Transport abandons western routes

In a stunning upset in the transport industry, today, the Novelo brothers, owners and operators of National Transport bus line has suspended its services indefinitely on the western routes. The move comes on the heels of an early morning operation in Hattieville on the Western Highway which resulted in a number of commuters being removed from buses and at least two buses being impounded after it was discovered that the vehicles were being operated without valid road permits. This afternoon, David Novelo declined an on-camera interview with News Five, citing a Supreme Court injunction put forward by his bus line against the Transport Board for similar actions against his company. Today’s developments have once again highlighted havoc in an industry that can least afford it. This afternoon we caught up with the drivers, conductors, and mechanics of National Transport who explained why the company decided to take these drastic measures.

Andrew Wagner, Station Manager, Benque Viejo
?That in turn has left the company in a weak stage because by impounding the buses we have no equipment to run. So as you noticed today, we were supposed to send out a run at two forty-five this afternoon, but because of the impounding of the buses, we can?t risk the equipment anymore. What we?ve been doing in the last three weeks or so we were utilising some of the equipment from the city bus to assist us in the west, but this morning they took one of those and we can?t afford to risk the other section of the company to that anymore.?

Janelle Chanona
?Where does that leave you and your co-workers??

Andrew Wagner
?Well, as you notice, all these guys here, it?s almost Christmas time; it leaves us without a job.?

Janelle Chanona
?What do you guys do personally until the legalities get sorted out over who has rights to the road??

Andrew Wagner
?Well we?ll sit and lick our wounds. I?m wondering how we?ll buy our children gifts for Christmas and how we are going to pay the bills. Myself, I have a loan at the bank that I need to pay and you know I?m sure some of these other guys have mortgages they have to pay, so without that I won?t be able to meet my payments.?