A plan to introduce electric buses worth £105 million has hit an unexpected roadblock—literally.

The single-decker buses, intended to reduce emissions by 2035, are too tall to fit under certain bridges.

This oversight has turned what should have been a green initiative into a local headache, especially for passengers in York.

The Issue in York

In York, residents on Leeman Road have been left stranded after discovering that the new electric buses can’t fit under a 3.9-meter (13-foot) railway bridge.

As a result, the Number 10 bus service, which many locals relied on, can no longer operate in the area.

The situation has sparked frustration, with one local asking, “Didn’t they think to measure it before making the buses? How stupid.”

Local Reaction and Concerns

Holgate ward councillor Kallum Taylor expressed disbelief at how the situation was handled.

He pointed out that this particular tunnel has a history of causing problems for taller vehicles, including an incident where a double-decker bus lost its entire upper deck after hitting the bridge.

Taylor criticized First Bus, questioning whether the company had even considered the height issue before rolling out the new buses.

“If they didn’t check, that’s appalling, but if they did and proceeded anyway, that’s still bad,” he remarked.

First Bus’s Response

First Bus, the company behind the scheme, acknowledged the challenges.

They mentioned that the changes implemented in June included re-routing the Number 59 service and introducing a new 10L service to compensate for the altered Number 10 route.

While these adjustments have increased trips to the city center, they also reduced connectivity to Boroughbridge Road.

The company is currently in discussions with the City of York Council to find a solution and expects to provide an update soon.

What’s Next?

As the situation unfolds, local authorities and First Bus will need to find a way to rectify this misstep and ensure that residents are not left without essential transport services.

The debacle serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough planning when implementing new infrastructure, especially when public services are at stake.

TDPel Media

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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