The launch of brand-new electric buses has been marred by disappointment as they’re too tall to drive under a bridge in York.
Residents in the Leeman Road area of York, North Yorkshire, were left with a bitter taste in their mouth after new e-buses were found to be too tall.
Frustrated residents have labelled the mishap ‘stupid,’ asking why the height was not considered when ordering the new fleet.
Passengers can no longer use the number 10 bus service because the vehicles can’t fit under the 12ft railway bridge.
It means the local bus route has been diverted after the operator First Bus introduced the electric, single-decker vehicles.
Kallum Taylor, a ward councillor for Holgate, called the outcome ‘farcical.’
He said: ‘It’s farcical that Leeman Road has lost another bus service.
‘Not due to financial pressure, but because the single-deckers of First’s new electric buses are too big to fit under a bridge.
‘Combined with previous losses and the closure of Leeman Road – which will prevent buses from serving St Peters Quarter.
‘There is a worrying pattern of reduction, with still no assurance that the entire area won’t be bypassed when the new bridge off Water End opens.
‘Cleaner buses are great, but it seems like, in the excitement this has caused those involved, this community has again been overlooked. It’s nowhere near good enough.
‘We need to see less photo-ops outside buses, and more work to give confidence that they are not being left behind.’
Locals didn’t mince their words when sharing their thoughts on the setback.
One resident said on social media: ‘This should have been taken into consideration when the buses were ordered.
‘They will have been aware of their height so either needed to find a lower version or considered using the old ones for the routes concerned.’
Another one commented: ‘Didn’t they think to measure it before making the buses? How stupid.’
The bus operator said it is looking into options to resolve the situation with the council officials.
A spokesperson at First York said: ‘The changes we introduced in June included a re-route and extension of the 59 service and a new 10L to mitigate alteration to the 10 service in this area.
‘This has brought more trips into the city centre but we accept that connectivity to Boroughbridge Road has been impacted as the 59 is a limited stop service.
‘We are discussing options to resolve the 59 stopping situation with the transport team at City of York Council and expect to provide an update in the coming weeks.’
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