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Over 400 Routemasters to be recalled due to rear-door fault | Over 400 Routemasters to be recalled due to rear-door fault |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Hundreds of London's New Routemaster buses are to be recalled because of a fault with the rear doors. | Hundreds of London's New Routemaster buses are to be recalled because of a fault with the rear doors. |
The problem was discovered in November when the door on one bus opened while the vehicle was moving, causing it to stop suddenly and injure a passenger. | The problem was discovered in November when the door on one bus opened while the vehicle was moving, causing it to stop suddenly and injure a passenger. |
Numerous issues have been found with the New Routemaster since it was introduced, including faulty batteries and overheating problems. | Numerous issues have been found with the New Routemaster since it was introduced, including faulty batteries and overheating problems. |
Transport for London (TfL) said it was not having to pay to fix the problem. | Transport for London (TfL) said it was not having to pay to fix the problem. |
Manufacturer Wrightbus is carrying out a software update on 423 affected buses, with 200 already fixed. | Manufacturer Wrightbus is carrying out a software update on 423 affected buses, with 200 already fixed. |
The rear door of the Routemaster was originally meant to stay open between stops to allow passengers to hop on and off, but this was stopped when conductors were removed. | The rear door of the Routemaster was originally meant to stay open between stops to allow passengers to hop on and off, but this was stopped when conductors were removed. |
System overloaded | |
Gareth Powell, TfL's director of strategy and contracted services, said the fault only happens "at very low speed and if the driver doesn't follow the correct procedure". | Gareth Powell, TfL's director of strategy and contracted services, said the fault only happens "at very low speed and if the driver doesn't follow the correct procedure". |
In November, one driver repeatedly pressed the door close button, which overloaded the system and caused the door to open, he revealed. | In November, one driver repeatedly pressed the door close button, which overloaded the system and caused the door to open, he revealed. |
As the bus was going slower than 5mph (8kph), the brake was applied. | As the bus was going slower than 5mph (8kph), the brake was applied. |
Since a passenger was "slightly injured", it was reported to the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency which issued the recall notice. | Since a passenger was "slightly injured", it was reported to the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency which issued the recall notice. |
The hybrid buses cost £350,000 each. | The hybrid buses cost £350,000 each. |
TfL has bought 1,000 vehicles, but they have suffered from several issues since their introduction in 2011. | TfL has bought 1,000 vehicles, but they have suffered from several issues since their introduction in 2011. |
In 2015 it was discovered that faulty batteries meant that many were running only on diesel. | In 2015 it was discovered that faulty batteries meant that many were running only on diesel. |
Following numerous complaints of overheating from passengers, opening windows were added to the Routemasters at a cost of £2m. | Following numerous complaints of overheating from passengers, opening windows were added to the Routemasters at a cost of £2m. |
Nearly 500 New Routemasters also had to be recalled because of a problem with the steering. | Nearly 500 New Routemasters also had to be recalled because of a problem with the steering. |
Florence Eshalmi AM, Labour London Assembly spokesperson for transport, said it was "beyond farcical" the vehicles had been found to have another problem. | Florence Eshalmi AM, Labour London Assembly spokesperson for transport, said it was "beyond farcical" the vehicles had been found to have another problem. |
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that no more of the buses will be purchased. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that no more of the buses will be purchased. |