A fire at ComfortDelGro-owned Metroline’s Potters Bar depot on Sunday 22 May has led to some Transport for London and First York bus services being reduced or revised due to safety checks being carried out on Switch Mobility Metrodecker EV models.
Andy Hopcraft, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a significant fire at Potters Bar Bus Garage at around 1430hrs this afternoon. The first fire engine was on scene within four minutes, where four buses were well alight. Neighbouring properties were quickly evacuated and surrounding buildings and other buses were protected from the fire. At the height of the fire eight fire engines were in attendance and a total of six buses were on fire – two electric hybrid and four diesel powered.”
Issuing a statement, a spokesperson for Switch Mobility said: “We are aware of a fire at Potters Bar bus depot involving six buses, including two Switch Mobility electric buses. The fire has been extinguished and our immediate focus is on understanding the full details of what has happened and how we can assist with subsequent investigations. Safety is paramount to Switch and as a precautionary measure we have advised operators not to charge or utilise vehicles that use the same battery technology as the vehicles involved whilst investigations continue.”
Metroline confirmed that all personnel were safely evacuated with no injuries and that it was working with the emergency services to determine the cause of the fire. 108 buses operating on the Transport for London network have been taken out of service, with some service disruption on routes normally served by the vehicle type. Additionally, 21 Metrodecker EVs operated on First York’s park & ride network were also taken off the road as a precaution pending safety checks.
