Second London bus catches hearth only a day after double-decker exploded

A second London bus burst into flames this morning – utterly destroying it lower than 24 hours after an electrical double decker exploded on the college run.

The hybrid car caught hearth in North Woolwich, East London, simply earlier than 7am with onlookers shouting ‘what the f***’ as they had been urged to ‘transfer again’.

A video confirmed the bus ablaze earlier than daybreak on the junction of Factory Road and Store Road, whereas pictures taken later in daylight confirmed its burnt-out shell.

Firefighters confirmed no passengers had been on the bus and there have been no accidents, though it took round an hour to get the blaze underneath management. Crews arrange an 80ft (25m) cordon on the scene and had been investigating the trigger this afternoon. 

Only yesterday, an enormous blast ripped the again off an Optare Metrodecker bus on route 200 in Wimbledon in south west London at 7.20am on its method to Raynes Park.

It got here practically two years in spite of everything Metrodeckers had been quickly taken out of service for security checks in May 2022 when two had been concerned in a significant hearth at Potters Bar bus storage in Hertfordshire – earlier than being returned to service solely days later.

TODAY: Another London bus caught hearth simply earlier than 7am in North Woolwich, East London 

TODAY: The burnt out shell of the London bus this morning

TODAY: The bus was utterly destroyed by the blaze

Today, a London Fire Brigade spokesman advised MailOnline: ‘We had been referred to as at 6.49am to reviews of a bus on hearth on Factory Road in North Woolwich. 

‘No passengers had been on the bus and there have been no reviews of any accidents.

‘Firefighters attended and introduced the fireplace underneath management by 7.55am. One double-decker bus was destroyed by hearth.

‘A 25-metre (80ft) cordon is at the moment in place as a precaution. The explanation for the fireplace is underneath investigation.’ 

Transport for London was contacted for remark by MailOnline. 

The precise mannequin of the bus concerned within the hearth is just not but recognized – however MailOnline understands it was a hybrid.

Hybrid buses, which run on diesel and electrical energy, are mentioned to supply 40 per cent much less carbon dioxide emissions than common buses. The first one in London was launched in 2007 on the 141 route between Palmers Green and London Bridge when Ken Livingstone was Mayor. 

Today’s blaze occurred close to two bus garages run by operator Go-Ahead London – its Silvertown website and one other referred to as Henley Road (North Woolwich). 

TfL, which has about 1,000 electrical buses throughout its community, mentioned yesterday that it’s going to not withdraw any Metrodeckers from service and has insisted they’re secure. 

However, the City Hall Conservatives have referred to as on Mayor Sadiq Khan to take away all of them from the capital’s roads till the reason for the Wimbledon hearth is understood.

More than 80 Metrodeckers function on eight London routes across the capital – along with route 200, the others are routes 23, 28, 134, 295, 317, 626 and N28.

YESTERDAY: An electrical double decker burst into flames in Wimbledon, south west London

YESTERDAY: The smoldering bus with a charred again window in Wimbledon yesterday

MAY 2022: Two Optare Metrodecker London electrical buses had been concerned in a significant hearth at Potters Bar bus storage in Hertfordshire on May 22, 2022 – which destroyed six buses

Mr Khan additionally confronted calls to launch a ‘full and pressing investigation’ into the fireplace in Wimbledon as he ploughs forward along with his acknowledged ambition to make the capital’s complete bus fleet ‘zero-emission’ by 2034.

Yesterday’s blaze was the newest instance of security faults with electrical automobiles – the quickest rising explanation for fires within the capital final 12 months, in line with the London Fire Brigade. 

In 2023 there have been 150 e-bike fires in London, plus 28 e-scooter fires, which was 53 per cent greater than in 2022.

The blaze in Potters Bar on May 22, 2022 noticed a complete of six buses burn and prompted different bus operators to maneuver automobiles from various garages in London to serve the impacted routes after Metrodeckers had been pulled by their producer Switch Mobility for checks.

Metrodeckers had been additionally withdrawn from York the place they operated a park and trip route run by First after 21 automobiles had been ordered in a £9.3million deal in 2020.

But the buses in London and York had been all again on the highway simply days later, when TfL confirmed on June 1 that Switch Mobility had accomplished its ‘thorough investigation’ and had given assurances that each car was ‘secure to return to service’.

Electric buses have been operating in London since 2014 when Boris Johnson was Mayor, and there are about 1,000 now working throughout the capital.

TfL is urgently investigating yesterday’s blaze with Switch Mobility and the route operator London General, saying: ‘Safety is our high precedence’.