No plans to pull 200 buses without fire suppression systems off roads: NSW transport minister
THERE are hundreds of buses that could explode in flames just like yesterday on the Harbour Bridge — and no plans to pull them off our roads.
ABOUT 200 Sydney buses yet to be fitted with fire retardant technology will remain on the city’s roads, the NSW transport minister has said after an ageing vehicle exploded in flames on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday.
Andrew Constance said more than 1000 state-owned buses have been retrofitted with fire suppression systems in the past 12 months.
But there remains 200 on the roads without the technology he described as “critically important”.
Among them was the 20-year-old vehicle that burst into flames on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in peak hour on Thursday night, causing traffic mayhem.
Amid fears more could explode, Mr Constance said there were no plans to pull the 200 buses yet to be fitted off the roads, despite admitting there had been 36 bus fires in the city this year alone.
About 2400 private-sector buses are also yet to be fitted, Mr Constance said, meaning the vast majority of the city’s bus network is without the safety systems.
The cause of Thursday night’s fire is being investigated by the Office of Transport and Safety Investigation.
The 29 passengers and the driver all made it off the peak-hour service safely, though two passengers and the driver were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.
Mr Constance said he would await the outcome of the OTSI investigation and act on whatever recommendation they made.
“If the union want to ensure that well over 2500 buses are taken off Sydney streets, they can launch that campaign, but my advice will come from OTSI, not the union in terms of bus safety,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, the Rail Tram and Bus Union called for Mr Constance’s resignation over the fire.
“We’ve been fighting to have all buses fitted with fire suppression systems since 2011,” union secretary Chris Preston said.
“Late last year, Mr Constance announced that he would fit fire suppressions to all buses ... but obviously his timetable to do so is just not good enough.”
Mr Constance said the retrofitting of the bus fleet was running ahead of schedule.
He said there was no “systemically identified reason why bus fires occur”.
“There is a raft of causes and locations within a bus that can cause a fire, so to that end the suppression systems are critically important,” he said.
State Transit chief executive Peter Rowley said the bus that caught fire on Thursday had its last major service on July 22, when no defects were found.
Its last minor mechanical inspection on August 9 detected no defects or faults that could explain the blaze, he said.
“Our buses are safe, there are no systemic issues that would warrant the removal of the buses,” he said.
“Until such time (OTSI) recommend these vehicles are unsafe, I will run them as per normal.
“They are a very safe bus to operate, there is no reasons to take these buses off the road at the moment.”
Despite that, however, Mr Constance said he could not guarantee the safety of passengers.
“I cannot guarantee anything but it’s vital everyone understands over 1000 have been fitted with fire suppression systems in the past 12 months,” he said.
The bus driver has been widely praised for his calm response to Thursday’s fire, ensuring all passengers made it safely off the bus before finally leaving himself.
“The driver is a humble fellow, happy to provide service to NSW, but his actions were above and beyond the norm,” Mr Constance said.
He and two passengers were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
kim.stephens@news.com.au
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