UK: Devon streets prove too tight for new electric buses

Stagecoach is rolling out new battery-electric buses in Torbay in the south-west of England, but the transition comes with an unexpected limitation. From 1 February, services on Park Road and Hartop Road in Torquay will be withdrawn because the new vehicles are too large to operate safely on the narrow streets.

The change affects the 35A and 35C routes and is directly linked to the introduction of the electric fleet. Compared with the diesel buses previously used, the battery-electric vehicles have larger dimensions. While the difference may be marginal on paper, it becomes critical on roads designed long before modern bus standards.

Park Road and Hartop Road feature narrow carriageways and on-street parking, leaving little room for larger vehicles to pass safely. Running the new electric buses on these sections would risk delays, vehicle damage and safety issues, the BBC reports. Rather than compromise reliability, Stagecoach has opted to reroute services away from the affected streets.

The operator is working with Torbay Council to review the wider 35 route and assess whether alternative bus stops can be provided nearby. This may reduce the impact on passengers.

Stagecoach announced last year that, with £361,000 in funding from the Department for Transport (DfT), it would electrify its entire bus fleet in Torbay. The first bus, unveiled in October of last year, was an Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-decker. The company will supply further double- and single-deckers, while further vehicles have been commissioned from Chinese manufacturer Yutong.

bbc.com