In a concerning turn of events, a second London bus has been engulfed in flames, leaving it completely destroyed. This incident occurred less than 24 hours after an electric double-decker bus exploded during a school run in Wimbledon.
The most recent incident involved a hybrid vehicle that caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, shortly before 7 a.m. Shocked onlookers at the scene reacted with astonishment, with some exclaiming, “what the f***,” as they were instructed to move away from the blaze.
A video captured the bus engulfed in flames during the early hours at the junction of Factory Road and Store Road, while subsequent daylight photographs revealed the burnt-out remains of the bus.
Fortunately, no passengers were on board at the time of the fire, and there have been no reported injuries. Firefighters were quick to respond, although it took approximately an hour to bring the blaze under control. Authorities established an 80ft (25m) cordon around the scene and have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Yesterday’s incident involved a significant blast that tore the back off an Optare Metrodecker bus while it was on route 200 in Wimbledon, South West London, en route to Raynes Park. This incident revived concerns surrounding the safety of electric buses.
It’s worth noting that nearly two years earlier, in May 2022, all Metrodecker buses were temporarily removed from service for safety assessments following a major fire at Potters Bar bus garage in Hertfordshire. However, they were promptly returned to service after a thorough investigation by their manufacturer, Switch Mobility, assured their safety.
Transport for London (TfL) has around 1,000 electric buses operating across its network, and TfL officials have stated that there are no plans to withdraw Metrodecker buses from service in light of these recent incidents, insisting that they are safe.
Nevertheless, the City Hall Conservatives are calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to temporarily remove all Metrodecker buses from London’s roads until the cause of the Wimbledon fire is determined.
Electric vehicles have raised safety concerns in London, with data from the London Fire Brigade revealing that they were the fastest-growing cause of fires in the capital in 2023. The incidents included 150 e-bike fires and 28 e-scooter fires, marking a 53 percent increase from the previous year.
The investigation into yesterday’s bus fire in Wimbledon is being conducted jointly by TfL, Switch Mobility, and London General, with safety as the top priority. Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has been actively promoting the goal of making London’s entire bus fleet “zero-emission” by 2034, is also facing calls for a “full and urgent investigation” into the incident.
