“Due to no available vehicle,” a tweet may read. “Due to driver availability,” another states, signing off the list of cancelled buses with “apologies for any inconvenience”. It might seem sensible for a bus company to have access to the requisite number of buses and people to drive them, but Stagecoach evidently has neither.

And so the lottery of getting home to Folkestone from the office in Canterbury begins. I suppose I am relatively fortunate to have two options for this journey, the speedier 16 which entails a longer walk on the other side, or the more scenic route on the 17, which has the benefit of dropping me off just yards from my front door.

But here’s the rub. The 17 is hourly in rush hour, relatively reliable in operating, but if your work means you can’t leave your desk at a precise time then you may find yourself with a long old wait at the bus stop if you miss it. The more frequent 16 fills the gap – but also seems to be more susceptible to cancellations. As I say, it’s something of a lottery when it comes to knowing what time you’ll eventually make it home of an evening.

I really don’t want to stick the boot in too hard. I am a cheerleader for public transport – never owned a car, doubt I ever will. And the current £2 fare cap means that at a time when, I am reliably informed by motorists of my acquaintance, the cost of driving is sky high the bus can appear something of a bargain.

The problem is reliability. There are times when it feels like the published timetable is more an aspiration than a promise. A suggestion of what might be possible, if the bus company can lay its hands on enough vehicles and the staff to drive them.

It is no wonder then that many people are put off entirely and see the car as the only reliable way of getting from A to B, whatever the cost.

The inconvenience for me is relatively minimal – I’m happy to decamp to a nearby pub for a swift half if the wait for the next bus is 30 minutes or more. But for older people, those with disabilities, children travelling to and from school, it is essential that the bus listed on the timetable shows up. And heaven forbid you are waiting for the last bus of the night which never appears.

There is also a distinct sense of helplessness when buses simply fail to arrive, especially if you are standing and waiting at an isolated stop in less than favourable weather. I often compare the experience of the buses to the trains. At least if Southeastern cancels your train then you are entitled to Delay Repay compensation. And at the station you will likely have shelter and somewhere to sit while you wait out any delay, as well as information boards outlining the extent of your predicament.

Stagecoach will direct you to its Twitter account or app for live updates on its services, or lack thereof. But this kind of digital information is not always easily accessible, and all but impossible when out and about if you do not possess a smartphone. There’s no easy alternative, but the lack of information only adds to that sense of helplessness when the timetable crumbles.

What can be done? Perhaps it is time for Stagecoach to take one of two routes. Increase the size and reliability of its fleet while hiring the requisite number of drivers. Or simply rewrite its timetables to match the resources available. An hourly bus that you know will actually show up is surely better than a half-hourly one you have to cross your fingers and say a little prayer for each and every day.