Simon McCarthny moved to London permanently in 2024 to be closer to his grandkids and secured a position driving the 133 route for Transport UK London Bus, navigating the city from Streatham in South London to Holborn in central London. After applying for an “awful lot” of jobs in service delivery and other areas following a year of unemployment, the 65-year-old completed an aptitude test and driver training before beginning passenger operations in April, according to 1News.
Landmarks and Route Highlights Along the Thames
Driving London’s famous red, double-decker buses gives McCarthny a unique vantage point of major city landmarks. According to 1News, he frequently crosses London Bridge to view Tower Bridge to the right and St Paul’s Cathedral to the left. Diversions also take him past Battersea Power Station, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Whitehall. Seeing the River Thames daily reminds him of home, as he noted that being a Kiwi means he likes being close to water and really missed it.
Transport UK London Bus head of operations Angie Ryder stated that McCarthny is the only New Zealander at the Battersea depot. Ryder noted that bus driving offers a good job for international relocations if the applicant holds a driver’s licence, as the company provides full training. While the garage maintains a waiting list, Ryder expressed a desire for more Kiwis to join, adding that employees often stay to develop a second career rather than leaving after six months.
Operational Responsibilities and Resilience
The role requires rigorous daily vehicle inspections to ensure buses are in full working order before leaving the depot. McCarthny pointed out the immense responsibility of managing an empty vehicle weighing over 11 tonnes, which can increase by roughly six tonnes with around 90 passengers aboard. He noted that stopping such a heavy vehicle requires constant awareness and defensive driving.
Shift work has tested his resilience, and he balances competing objectives, such as maintaining schedule regulations against prioritizing passenger comfort on hot summer days. Aside from dealing with fare evaders who walk on without paying, McCarthny draws on early banking career advice to greet vulnerable passengers, older individuals, and people with disabilities to provide a positive social interaction.
Safety remains a consideration for drivers and their families. Following an assault resulting in the death of a bus driver near his depot shortly after he started, McCarthny received calls from New Zealand, and his daughters expressed concern. However, he noted that drivers are protected by Transport UK communications and Transport for London GPS tracking networks. McCarthny advises jobseekers facing prolonged unemployment to keep active and consider different fields, noting that driving a London bus is a path he never anticipated.
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