Electric “Tram-Like” Bus Collides with Car on Inaugural Day

Transport for London (TfL) has announced an investigation after one of its new electric “tram-like” buses was involved in a collision with a car on the day the new fleet was introduced. The Go-Ahead London bus reportedly crashed on Sevenoaks Road in Orpington, south-east London, on 20 November, as the new 358 buses began service. During a Bromley Council meeting, Labour councillor Kathy Bance reported that the bus had collided with a car owned by the wife of a Bromley Labour councillor. A spokesperson for TfL confirmed that no individuals were harmed, and the collision was deemed minor. The spokesperson further indicated that TfL is collaborating with the bus operator, Go-Ahead London, to investigate the crash. The new buses are equipped with a charging point on the roof, facilitating regular recharging. A total of 20 buses utilizing pantograph technology currently serve the 358 route, which runs from Crystal Palace to Orpington. Pantograph technology was first implemented in London in 2022 for the 132 route at Bexleyheath bus garage. TfL has stated that this innovation will enable a reduction in the number of buses required for the 358 route, thereby generating savings that can be reinvested in other segments of the London network. It also mentioned that the buses incorporate additional safety features, including speed limiting technology and audible warnings for pedestrians. Lorna Murphy, director of buses at TfL, previously stated: “The green benefits are obviously that we’re reducing our carbon emissions. “On a bus like this, we can carry up to 80 times the amount of people that can go in a car in just three times the space.”