Metroline Potters Bar depot fire

[MCR247]

Indeed, doesn't look very good considering they're only a year and a half old.

Without wanting to take us off topic, I do remember hearing something about them being fuelled by tankers at the moment while something else is built so it could be to do with that

 

[pitdiver]

According to todays Evening Standard on line TfL have recalled an entire fleet of electric buses following the Potters Bar fire.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

According to todays Evening Standard on line TfL have recalled an entire fleet of electric buses following the Potters Bar fire.

The Evening Standard article is a mess tbh. It's Optare / Switch Mobility that have pulled the buses from service, not TFL.

 

[GusB]

Please remember to include links to any sources that you refer to, as well as a relevant quote from your source. Thanks

 

[dodecahedron67]

On good authority, Optare/Switch no longer pulling buses from road & have completed investigation. Don’t know outcome of it yet, but clearly not bad if they’re allowing buses back into service

 

[MotCO]

On good authority, Optare/Switch no longer pulling buses from road & have completed investigation. Don’t know outcome of it yet, but clearly not bad if they’re allowing buses back into service

The news does not seem to have filtered down to Go Ahead London - route 200 is still operated by hybrid buses. (Source: https://lvf.io/#LDN|history 200) Maybe the buses have not been charged.

 

[dodecahedron67]

The news does not seem to have filtered down to Go Ahead London - route 200 is still operated by hybrid buses. (Source: https://lvf.io/#LDN|history 200) Maybe the buses have not been charged.

There’s at least one “charging day” needed for most operators from what I’ve heard

 

[DaveLondon]

The news does not seem to have filtered down to Go Ahead London - route 200 is still operated by hybrid buses. (Source: https://lvf.io/#LDN|history 200) Maybe the buses have not been charged.

What is your source? None has returned to service according to London Vehicle Finder with any of the three operators.

 

[MotCO]

What is your source? None has returned to service according to London Vehicle Finder with any of the three operators.

Errr. Isn't that what I said?

 

[Busoccultation]

What is your source? None has returned to service according to London Vehicle Finder with any of the three operators.

OME46031 has returned into service on the C3 this evening and there are a couple of OME's are out on the 23 this evening. For some reason the 23 have suddenly stopped tracking on LVF around 18:30, but the route can still be tracked on bustimes map.

 

[MotCO]

LOTS (www.lots.org.uk) reports that the cause was an ‘isolated operational error'. Did someone forget to isolate the batteries when parking it, if such a thing is required?

 

[150249]

Some of the Metrodeckers are back in service this morning. Does anyone know if OME2674 was destroyed in the fire?

 

[MotCO]

Some of the Metrodeckers are back in service this morning. Does anyone know if OME2674 was destroyed in the fire?

LOTS (www.LOTS.org.uk) reports that two Metrodeckers were destroyed. Acording to LVF (https://lvf.io/) three OMEs have been withdrawn - 2652, 2660, 2670. Did one go back to Optare as a demonstrator, leaving the other two the ones destroyed in the fire?

The major fire in the rear yard at Potters Bar Garage last Sunday afternoon 22nd May that started in an electric Optare MetroDecker resulted in all such buses being stood down for inspection. Six buses were destroyed - 2 VW, 2 TE and 2 OME. All other Metroline garages sent spare buses that they could spare, virtually all of which were VWHs. Reduced service on the garage’s routes was necessary for a few days. Similar MetroDeckers with Go-Ahead route 200 at Merton, also RATP routes 23 and C3 at Westbourne Park) were taken out of service that night for inspection. Go-Ahead initially used spare Es and WVLs but a dozen EHVs soon moved over from east London. RATP initially suspended routes 23, N23 and C3 but soon reinstated a limited service. Their first OMEs went back into service on the Night Bus N23 from 22:00 on 26th May, followed by the C3 on 27th. Go-Ahead and Metroline kept theirs off service. There was a lot of speculation over the cause of the fire in both the printed and electronic Media but most of it was wrong. As at this weekend (27 May) the cause of the fire had not yet been established.



UPDATE: A Metroline staff notice was issued at about 16:30 today to advise that the MetroDecker EVs are now safe to operate. Paraphrasing, it was an ‘isolated operational error’. The Metroline buses should start to re-enter service tonight or tomorrow. RATP Westbourne Park have already put theirs back into service. Go-Ahead Merton had stored theirs off site so probably they could come back over this weekend.

 

[gka472l]

LOTS (www.LOTS.org.uk) reports that two Metrodeckers were destroyed. Acording to LVF (https://lvf.io/) three OMEs have been withdrawn - 2652, 2660, 2670. Did one go back to Optare as a demonstrator, leaving the other two the ones destroyed in the fire?

2652 was the one which became a demonstrator....

 

[150249]

LOTS (www.LOTS.org.uk) reports that two Metrodeckers were destroyed. Acording to LVF (https://lvf.io/) three OMEs have been withdrawn - 2652, 2660, 2670. Did one go back to Optare as a demonstrator, leaving the other two the ones destroyed in the fire?

Ah ok, I'm presuming that the fire started in 2660 then

 

[gka472l]

Ah ok, I'm presuming that the fire started in 2660 then

There's a few pics appeared on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/briti...odhbE-2noaEn5-2no5pMu-2jLmyEz-2ikSVB1-2k7TuNR

HTH

 

[James H]

This was discussed at the TfL board this morning - cause attributed to human error by maintenance operative working on behalf of the bus manufacturer putting coolant in the wrong place.

 

[MotCO]

This was discussed at the TfL board this morning - cause attributed to human error by maintenance operative working on behalf of the bus manufacturer putting coolant in the wrong place.

That sounds a bit careless. Is it safe to assume that it was a maintenance worker working on behalf of Optare / Switch? Or are there some ADL / BYD buses at Potters Bar?

 

[Busoccultation]

That sounds a bit careless. Is it safe to assume that it was a maintenance worker working on behalf of Optare / Switch? Or are there some ADL / BYD buses at Potters Bar?

Potters Bar currently only have Optare/Switch electrics which there are 28 Metrodeckers allocated to the 134 (not counting the two destroyed in the fire and the one that returned to Optare in 2020) and the solitary non-TfL spec 8.7m Metrocity used on the Potters Bar local PB1 route.

 

[sbrignall72]

Potters Bar currently only have Optare/Switch electrics which there are 28 Metrodeckers allocated to the 134 (not counting the two destroyed in the fire and the one that returned to Optare in 2020) and the solitary non-TfL spec 8.7m Metrocity used on the Potters Bar local PB1 route.

Do you think the one that returned may come back now too to replace at least one lost through the fire.

 

[MotCO]

Do you think the one that returned may come back now too to replace at least one lost through the fire.

Depends if the 134 is one of the routes to see a reduction in frequency.

 

[Busaholic]

Depends if the 134 is one of the routes to see a reduction in frequency.

With the loss of the 24 and probable reduction in the 43 it wouldn't seem likely in the immediate future, but who's to know in these uncertain times?

 

[M60lad]

Out of interest what if anything has replaced the lost vehicles involved in the incident at Potters Bar in the short/long term?

 

[Snow1964]

Out of interest what if anything has replaced the lost vehicles involved in the incident at Potters Bar in the short/long term?

Volvo Wrightbus Gemini3s VWH 2235, 2241, 2242 seem to be helping out on 134. A few VMHs (Volvo Evoseti) did get used too, but not sure if they are still there

One of the destroyed buses had been used for a while as a meal relief bus during the lockdowns so was presumably surplus and just parked up, so wont be replaced.

Short term some chargers are either damaged or inaccessible which explains the extra hybrid buses at Potters Bar

Haven’t heard if the electric buses will be replaced, but TfL are paying for 134 as an electric bus route, so presumably wouldn’t accept it switching to part hybrid long term