Electric buses in York too tall for local bridge
York's new e-buses can't pass under local bridge, causing service issues
The rollout of new electric buses in York has hit a snag, as the vehicles are too tall to pass under a local bridge. In Leeman Road, York, North Yorkshire, residents expressed frustration after discovering the new e-buses are too tall for the 12ft railway bridge.
Locals described the oversight as ‘stupid,’ questioning why the height factor was ignored when the fleet was ordered. As a result, passengers can no longer use the number 10 bus service, leading to a diversion of the route after First Bus introduced the electric single-decker buses.
Holgate ward councillor Kallum Taylor criticised the situation as ‘farcical.’ He remarked, ‘It’s farcical that Leeman Road has lost another bus service, not due to financial concerns but because the new electric single-deckers are too tall for a bridge.’
Taylor highlighted a pattern of service reductions, with previous losses and the closure of Leeman Road preventing buses from serving St Peters Quarter. He voiced concerns that the entire area might be bypassed when the new bridge at Water End opens.
He added, ‘Cleaner buses are great, but it seems like in the excitement, this community has again been overlooked. It’s nowhere near good enough. We need fewer photo-ops and more action to ensure they are not left behind.’
Residents voiced their dissatisfaction openly.
One social media user commented, ‘This should have been considered when ordering the buses. They knew the height, so either a lower version was needed, or the old buses should have been used for these routes.’
Another resident remarked, ‘Didn’t they think to measure it before making the buses? How stupid.’
The bus operator is now exploring solutions with council officials.
A First York spokesperson stated, ‘The changes we introduced in June included a re-route and extension of the 59 service and a new 10L to mitigate changes to the 10 service in this area. This has increased trips to the city centre, but we acknowledge that connectivity to Boroughbridge Road has been affected as the 59 is a limited stop service.’
The spokesperson added, ‘We are in discussions with the City of York Council’s transport team to resolve the 59 stopping issue and expect to provide an update in the coming weeks.’
What Other Media Are Saying
- That’s TV reports that Brendon McCullum is confident Jos Buttler remains the man to lead the England cricket team.(read more)
- Yahoo News reports that residents in York are angry due to new electric single-decker buses being too tall to pass under a bridge, affecting local bus services.(read more)
- Metro reports that Billy Corgan, the 57-year-old Smashing Pumpkins frontman, has embraced his “port wine” birthmark after spending his whole life trying to hide it, inspired by model Carlotta Bertotti’s body positivity.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why can’t the new electric buses be used on the number 10 route in York?
The new electric buses are too tall to fit under a 12ft railway bridge on the route.
How have residents reacted to the new electric buses in York?
Residents are frustrated and have called the oversight ‘stupid,’ criticizing the failure to consider the height of the buses.
What has been done to mitigate the disruption caused by the new buses in York?
A re-route and extension of the 59 service and a new 10L route were introduced to mitigate the changes.
What is the main concern of Kallum Taylor about the new buses?
Kallum Taylor is concerned that the community is being overlooked and losing bus services due to poor planning.
What steps are being taken to resolve the bus height issue in York?
First York is discussing options with City of York Council officials and expects to provide an update soon.
