Route 11 "Boris Bus " Crashes on Second Day of Service
New Bus for London involved in Chelsea Bridge Road pile-up
Transport for London has confirmed that a New Bus for London running on Route 11 was involved in a crash on Sunday - just one day after the new vehicles began operating on the route to and from Fulham Broadway.
Three people, including the bus driver were taken to hospital after the updated version of London's famous Routemaster was involved in a collision on Chelsea Bridge Road on Sunday afternoon along with two other buses and three cars.
A 47 year-old man and 34 year-old woman travelling in one of the cars were taken to hospital along with the driver, but none of their injuries were life threatening. 12 other people suffered minor injuries.
Mike Weston, operations director for London Buses, said three buses, a route 11, 360 and 452, were involved, adding: "We can confirm one of these buses was a New Bus for London vehicle. Our first concern is, of course, for the driver, passengers and others involved in this incident."
Transport for London said the bus was "off route" but in service, and an investigation was under way to establish why.
Police believe the 58-year-old bus driver collided with a line of stationary traffic on the southbound carriageway near to the junction with Bury Bridge Road.
Officers from the Met's Traffic Unit are investigating and ask for anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to the collision, to contact their appeal line on 0208 285 1574.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced in June that bus route 11 would become the second route in the capital to be served entirely by iconic New Bus for London vehicles, from Saturday September 21.
During peak hours 25 of the new buses will be in passenger service to carry the 23,000 people who travel on the route each day.
Route 11 is operated by Go Ahead and runs from Liverpool Street Station to Fulham Broadway, via Bank, Mansion House, St Paul's, Ludgate Circus, Fleet Street, Aldwych, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Victoria, Sloane Square and Chelsea.
At the time of the announcement, the Mayor said: " I am very pleased that we can announce that route 11 will be next to be served by these beautiful, bespoke, economy-boosting buses.
"They have world-leading environmental credentials and offer an unparalleled passenger experience."
The next route to be served by the New Bus for London is Route 9, running from the Aldwych to Hammersmith via Olympia. The vehicles are set to be introduced on this route from October 26.
September 23, 2013
