Buses withdrawn as 'precaution' after fire

A bus company has withdrawn 42 vehicles from service after one was destroyed in a fire.

Metrobus said manufacturer Wrightbus asked it to pull vehicles from service "as a precautionary measure", adding that there would be "disruption to services on Monday.....and throughout the week".

Investigations so far "indicate that no other buses are impacted", according to Wrightbus, which apologised for disruption but said it was "the right course of action".

West Sussex firefighters responded to the burning bus on Southgate Avenue in Crawley last Tuesday.

Metrobus said it had been sourcing replacement buses and routes may be served by vehicles that don't have its livery, but customers could still travel on these buses.

The company runs services from its Crawley depot to locations across south-east England, including Brighton, Tunbridge Wells in Kent and Epsom in Surrey.

"We appreciate the understanding and patience of our passengers as we take these steps to ensure safety and reliability remain our top priorities," Metrobus said.

A Wrightbus spokesperson said the fleet of single-deck Kite Hydroliner buses was withdrawn "to enable further inspections to be carried out".

Three of the vehicle models operating in Suffolk and Australia were also withdrawn from service after the fire, the company said.

Metrobus said the investigation was looking at "an isolated battery overheating incident".

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