Bus engine explosion in Milton Keynes

[MK Tom]

This happened at around 3.30PM yesterday. The vehicle had only been owned by Redline for two weeks at this point. Eyewitness reports describe a loud explosion. The resulting fire has done damage to the roof of the old bus station.

 

[gordonthemoron]

so that's what the fire engine(s) were doing opposite the station yesterday when I passed at about 4:15

 

[ValleyLines142]

Wow, that's insane! Hope there were no passengers on the bus!

 

[northwichcat]

Wow, that's insane! Hope there were no passengers on the bus!

According to one report the bus driver got everyone to alight outside the bus station as he didn't think the bus was safe to continue in service.

 

[Mugby]

What was it doing in the old bus station?

Has it been brought back into use?

 

[gage75]

Probably a case of closest place to get off the bus, obviously the driver felt something was not quite right with the bus, presumably saw some tell tale signs I.e. smoke, noise excessive vibrations before the Big Bang in order for the driver to get the passengers off pretty quickly, it could've been a whole lot worse

 

[MK Tom]

No, it's just used as a layover area by several operators.

The bus was empty, fortunately. Reports on Facebook by various people seem to suggest the bus was smoking as far back as Newport Pagnell, but that is of course unsubstantiated.

This comes only a week after Redline ran this Council contract route for free behind the Council's back to drive off a competing operator. Not a good start for them on the route.

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Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuUSrYfXbA8 - jump forward two minutes for the biggest part.

 

[gordonthemoron]

what route is it?

 

[MK Tom]

Service 21, Central rail station to Lavendon via Newport Pagnell and Olney. Replaces Arriva route 1 which has been cut (shock horror) back to Newport. Started running last Monday. You can just about make out the route branding in my fourth photo.

 

[IanD]

It's in the layby in front of the old bus station.

Not having much luck with the 21 and 321 services in MK at the moment.

 

[MK Tom]

The 321 still runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays, but the operator were losing too much money competing against Redline's free service during the week. They're now looking at pursuing legal action against Redline according to their Facebook page, with a return to a weekday Olney service possible depending on the outcome of that.

Bad fortnight for Redline all round really.

 

[westcoaster]

Not good, one point of interest is that the fire fighters just had one hose going, is that because the bus was a lost cause, and they wanted to make sure the fire didn't spread into the bus station roof (which at one point could be seen to be on fire).

 

[John Webb]

Not good, one point of interest is that the fire fighters just had one hose going, is that because the bus was a lost cause, and they wanted to make sure the fire didn't spread into the bus station roof (which at one point could be seen to be on fire).

It would seem that the video showed only a short piece of the fire-fighting. From the Bucks F&R Service website:
"Wednesday 7 May, 3.21pm: Bus on fire spreading to canopy, Elder Gate, Central Milton Keynes. Two appliances and crews from Great Holm (call signs FJC 11P1 and FJC 11P2) attended. Firefighters used a jet, a hose reel, a dry powder extinguisher, a turntable ladder, a thermal imaging camera and two sets of breathing apparatus. The bus was destroyed and the canopy was damaged by fire and smoke. No-one was hurt."

 

[IanD]

The 321 still runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays, but Meridian were losing too much money competing against Redline's free service during the week. They're now looking at pursuing legal action against Redline according to their Facebook page, with a return to a weekday Olney service possible depending on the outcome of that.

Bad fortnight for Redline all round really.

They should be stripped of the council contract. For once we were getting a half decent service on the route (and beyond CMK to Buckingham even) and these cowboys have to mess it up.

Edit: Obviosuly by half decent, I mean the same level as before but with the extension to Buckingham and beyond. Now not only have we lost the evening service but the frequency has halved.

 

[MK Tom]

They should be stripped of the council contract. For once we were getting a half decent service on the route (and beyond CMK to Buckingham even) and these cowboys have to mess it up.

Edit: Obviosuly by half decent, I mean the same level as before but with the extension to Buckingham and beyond. Now not only have we lost the evening service but the frequency has halved.

Agreed 100%. The council were complete fools to spend taxpayers' money on a contract route to a crappy operator like Redline when another operator had the route registered commercially. I hope they now feel appropriately stupid, given it's resulted in one week of Redline running free with their money and then a second week of Redline trying to burn down the bus station.

At least you still have the Sunday service, thanks to Meridian.

"The bus was destroyed"

Understatement of the year.

 

[jon0844]

What a crap logo. The attempt at making an R with the red line is pathetic and it just reads as edline.

 

[IanD]

Agreed 100%. The council were complete fools to spend taxpayers' money on a contract route to a crappy operator like Redline when another operator had the route registered commercially. I hope they now feel appropriately stupid, given it's resulted in one week of Redline running free with their money and then a second week of Redline trying to burn down the bus station.

At least you still have the Sunday service, thanks to Meridian.



Understatement of the year.

Saw the service running empty on Sunday and Monday as the council had been round all the bus stops and put notices up saying the service was suspended and announced it on their website. No mention of the Sunday/BH service. Was a bit miffed as we'd had to pay for a taxi from Olney to Newport Pagnell instead of the 50p my daughter normally pays!
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What a crap logo. The attempt at making an R with the red line is pathetic and it just reads as edline.

Should rename it Flatlined after this. And if you're called Redline why have green buses??

 

[MK Tom]

They didn't actually repaint the buses out of their last livery, they just slapped 'edline' on the side and the route branding along the top.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They didn't actually repaint the buses out of their last livery, they just slapped 'edline' on the side and the route branding along the top.

Well, they're certainly making the 'eadlines now.... :roll:

 

[Robertj21a]

It's in the layby in front of the old bus station.

Not having much luck with the 21 and 321 services in MK at the moment.

It might have been a better idea to stick a bit of petrol on it so that the dump of the old bus station could have been destroyed once and for all.

Robert

 

[MK Tom]

It does seem like a bit of prime real estate in a central location just waiting for some proper development. Certainly not my favourite building in CMK.

Photo of the roof damage taken today.

 

[IanD]

It does seem like a bit of prime real estate in a central location just waiting for some proper development. Certainly not my favourite building in CMK.

Photo of the roof damage taken today.

It's a useful community asset and I've heard it won't be going anywhere for a good few years yet. Anyway, if it went, where would CAMRA have their beer festival??

 

[northwichcat]

They should be stripped of the council contract.

Would the council contract specify a minimum fare or just a maximum fare? With most contracted routes the operator day ticket is valid on the route but in some cases it's not the cheapest available fare e.g. if the fare is £2.20 single and the day ticket is £5 then 2 singles is cheaper, while if it was £3.20 single then the day ticket would be cheaper than 2 singles.

 

[IanD]

Would the council contract specify a minimum fare or just a maximum fare? With most contracted routes the operator day ticket is valid on the route but in some cases it's not the cheapest available fare e.g. if the fare is £2.20 single and the day ticket is £5 then 2 singles is cheaper, while if it was £3.20 single then the day ticket would be cheaper than 2 singles.

Rumour has it that the council may also be taking action.

I believe the bus operators are free to set their own regular fares but the concession rate is set by the Council (ie 50p for under 16s and the MK All-in-one card holders). However, it is odd that the 4 (now!) operators of routes between Newport Pagnell and Milton Keynes seem to have come up with the same adult fare even though the routes/times/distances are all different.

 

[MK Tom]

Rumour has it that the council may also be taking action.

I believe the bus operators are free to set their own regular fares but the concession rate is set by the Council (ie 50p for under 16s and the MK All-in-one card holders). However, it is odd that the 4 (now!) operators of routes between Newport Pagnell and Milton Keynes seem to have come up with the same adult fare even though the routes/times/distances are all different.

Arriva is £4.20 day, Meridian is £3.50 day. I don't know about Redline, and Stagecoach don't offer a day ticket within MK currently, although I keep pressuring them to introduce one. The MK Moove is obviously valid on all four, and priced at £4.70. I assume you weren't counting Vale Travel? Last time I used it the 24/25 had its own day ticket. I think it was £2.80.

What are the singles on each of the operators?

 

[IanD]

Arriva is £4.20 day, Meridian is £3.50 day. I don't know about Redline, and Stagecoach don't offer a day ticket within MK currently, although I keep pressuring them to introduce one. The MK Moove is obviously valid on all four, and priced at £4.70. I assume you weren't counting Vale Travel? Last time I used it the 24/25 had its own day ticket. I think it was £2.80.

What are the singles on each of the operators?

I was counting Arriva, Stagecoach, Vale and Redline. £2.20 single on all of them as far as I know. Haven't used Redline but have heard it's the same. And don't know about Meridian/Britannia as they weren't running when I last used the bus (last Saturday) so ended up on Arriva 2 going all round the houses before even getting out of Newport Pagnell. The 321 was scheduled to get to CMK in the time it takes the 2 to finally get out of Newport P.

 

[34D]

Some gaffer tape and steel angle. Bus will be fine

 

[A0]

Agreed 100%. The council were complete fools to spend taxpayers' money on a contract route to a crappy operator like Redline when another operator had the route registered commercially.

The provisions of the Transport Act 1985 as I understand it don't allow councils to subsidise competing routes against commercially registered routes, unless there is a compelling need. On which basis I think you're probably wrong in terms of what the council have contracted Redline to do or the other operator was planning to serve notice on their commercial route.

Given the cost savings most councils are pursuing at the moment, it seems unlikely they'd choose to subsidise a bus service which was competing with a commercially registered service unless there was an exceptional reason - most councils are removing subsidies where there is a commercial route registered that could cover.

 

[MK Tom]

The Council's excuse was that the other operator's service omitted two villages, which the operator had made clear it was willing to serve as an extension of its commercial route.