Orpington Depot Fire

[Bwsbro]

Reports states that a fire broke out at Go Ahead’s Metrobus Orpington depot in the early hours of the morning.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LondonFire/status/1065488338860294145?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

Eight fire engines are still at the scene of the #Orpington bus depot fire on Farnborough Hill. A number of busses are alight which is causing a lot of smoke, please avoid the area you can. can, More here: (link: http://bit.ly/2R7S3IF) bit.ly/2R7S3IF

 

[AJW12]

A bit more info on here... https://news.sky.com/story/explosions-as-11-buses-catch-fire-in-southeast-london-11559943

"Huge explosions" have been reported after 11 buses caught fire at a depot in southeast London.

Seven buses were "complete destroyed" by the blaze on Farnborough Hill in Orpington, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said, while four more were badly damaged.

A further 30 vehicles were moved to a safe area as crews worked to stop the flames spreading.

I live in Eltham and the Metrobus operated routes that serve here are barely running. Only about 4 buses on the 126, 2 on the 162 and none at all on the 233.

 

[Wirewiper]

Latest report is that eleven buses have been damaged/destroyed. Staff managed to prevent more losses by moving around 30 vehicles away from the blaze.

The fire also damaged operational buildings which may explain why the service is so poor this morning.

 

[Robertj21a]

Latest report is that eleven buses have been damaged/destroyed. Staff managed to prevent more losses by moving around 30 vehicles away from the blaze.

The fire also damaged operational buildings which may explain why the service is so poor this morning.

Buses are believed to be stuck - parked up behind those burnt out.

 

[Wirewiper]

According to the TfL Bus Alerts Twitter feed all routes in Orpington are now operating a full service. It appears there were some refurbished ex-Tower Transit ADL Enviro400s in store for the takeover of route 51 from Stagecoach in a couple of weeks, and some of these have been pressed into service.

 

[156443]

https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/orpington-bus-garage-fire-first-2246424

This is the apparent cause.

LFB has not yet revealed the cause of the fire, but there are unconfirmed reports it was started by an air conditioning unit on top of one of the buses.

 

[MotCO]

It appears there were some refurbished ex-Tower Transit ADL Enviro400s in store for the takeover of route 51 from Stagecoach in a couple of weeks, and some of these have been pressed into service.

Indeed - they have appeared on the 353, 320 and R9 today. However, they will need to get replacements tout de suite to take up route 51 on 8th December, just over 2 weeks away. I assume Go-Ahead London have no spares, hence the need to acquire ex-Tower Transit buses.

 

[Busoccultation]

Indeed - they have appeared on the 353, 320 and R9 today. However, they will need to get replacements tout de suite to take up route 51 on 8th December, just over 2 weeks away. I assume Go-Ahead London have no spares, hence the need to acquire ex-Tower Transit buses.

I'm hearing the recently withdrawn 07 reg Omnidekkas are going to be reinstated back in service to replace the fire damaged E400's.

Also a ex 293 SD Omnicity 561 just reinstated in service on the 358 today with few other ex 293 SD Omnicitys expected to be reinstated back in service to replace the now written-off MEC54/56/60 on the 358.

 

[MotCO]

I'm hearing the recently withdrawn 07 reg Omnidekkas .

There was a batch of Scania Olympus double deckers recently withdrawn - are these the ones you are referring to?

now written-off MEC54/56/60 .

Do you have a list of those written off?

 

[Busoccultation]

There was a batch of Scania Olympus double deckers recently withdrawn - are these the ones you are referring to?

Do you have a list of those written off?

I'm referring the Omnidekkas that used to be based at Croydon (C) garage on the 405, though I won't be surprised if any of the Olympus's being reinstated back in service as well.

So far I know that E60, E94 and EN33 (ex Tower Transit DN33625) are definite write off along with the 3 Citaros.

 

[MotCO]

the now written-off MEC54/56/60 on the 358.

Looking further forward, would Metrobus place a three bus add-on order to whatever they order for route 227 to replace the three written off? Or transfer some from the commercial fleet used as trainers (ex Red Arrow)?

 

[MotCO]

Some WVL class buses seem to have been transferred from East London - noted so far are WVL 414, 417 and 421

Edit: added 421

Second Edit: deleted

 

[MotCO]

I'm referring the Omnidekkas that used to be based at Croydon (C) garage on the 405, though I won't be surprised if any of the Olympus's being reinstated back in service as well.

So far I know that E60, E94 and EN33 (ex Tower Transit DN33625) are definite write off along with the 3 Citaros.

EH18, SEN21, E211 and E224 are also reported as fire damaged on London Vehicle Finder - it is not known whether these were as a consequence of this fire.

 

[MotCO]

Some WVL class buses seem to have been transferred from East London - noted so far are WVL 414, 417 and 421

These may have been transferred for the take up of route 51, rather than to cover fire-damaged buses. One was seen in the depot with 51 blinds in place.

 

[MotCO]

I'm hearing the recently withdrawn 07 reg Omnidekkas are going to be reinstated back in service to replace the fire damaged E400's.

Also a ex 293 SD Omnicity 561 just reinstated in service on the 358 today with few other ex 293 SD Omnicitys expected to be reinstated back in service to replace the now written-off MEC54/56/60 on the 358.

Omnicities 561, 562, 563 and 565 are now operating on the 358.

It's not the first time Metrobus has operated Citaros alongside Omnicities; when the X26 was operated many years ago with Omnicities, an increase in frequency saw Metrobus hire ex Quality Line Citaros, previously on the 293.