Reader picture by Ben Cheyne of park and ride bus fire on the roundabout near Broadland Business Park, Thorpe St Andrew

Photo gallery and update: Bus driver praised after Norwich bus explosion

by BEN KENDALL Friday, May 20, 2011
2:28 PM

A driver who evacuated 40 passengers from his bus just minutes before it exploded has been praised for his actions.

Bus fire on the Postwick roundabout. Picture by Sol Khani

Driver Stuart Jones noticed smoke and flames as he drove the double decker park and ride bus near the Postwick roundabout at about 5pm on Thursday.

Paul Bonham, commercial director for Norse, said: “Stuart is a very experienced driver and acted very professionally by stopping in a safe place and making sure passengers left the vehicle quickly and safely. Our drivers are trained for emergencies of this sort, and this incident showed the value of that training.

“After the fire in this vehicle the engine compartments of all our other double deckers have been checked, and all have been found to be in good order.

“We apologise to the passengers on the bus for what happened, and to other road users caught up by disruption. We may never find out the precise reason for the fire, except that it was engine failure of some sort, but we do know that this vehicle had been properly maintained.”

Bus fire on the Postwick roundabout. Picture by Karla Bateson

Norwich park and ride services are provided by Norfolk County Council and Tracy Jessop, assistant director travel and transport, said she was pleased that Norse, which operates three park and ride services under contract to the County Council, had acted quickly to check all similar vehicles.

“I would also like to commend the driver, Stuart Jones, who dealt with a very difficult situation particularly well, remaining calm and taking care of his passengers. It is reassuring to all park and ride users that drivers are well trained and know exactly what to do when the unexpected happens,” she said.

Police and Highway Agency officers were at the Postwick roundabout, near the Broadland business park, following the blaze on the 605 park and ride bus just after 5pm yesterday.

Fire crews from Norwich, Sprowston and Earlham all returned to their stations at around 7.20pm,

Reader picture by Simon Pitkin of park and ride bus fire on the roundabout near Broadland Business Park, Thorpe St Andrew

The driver of the bus told a passerby he noticed a flame in his rear view mirror and told the passengers to get off the bus. Nobody was injured.

A council spokesman confirmed the double decker was returning to Postwick from Norwich city centre with about 40 people on board.

A statement added: “All the passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries or ill-effects were reported by passengers or the driver. The vehicle, belonging to the Norse Group, has been burnt out and destroyed. “Park and ride services are being maintained by diverting via the Brundall roundabout. Police are in attendance and are advising motorists to avoid the junction if at all possible.”

Witnesses said there were major traffic problems and police have deployed extra officers to help direct traffic but the incident is likely to cause delays throughout the evening.

Bus fire on the Postwick roundabout. Picture by Charlie mann

Mel Ashford, who works at a nearby Aviva call centre, said: “We heard a massive explosion and it sounds like something had landed on the roof.

“We rushed outside and couldn’t believe the size of the fire. We saw the driver standing on the verge and he seemed to be okay.”

Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs and plumes of smoke could be seen on the city’s skyline.

Bus on Postwick park and ride roundabout. Picture: Amy Taylor

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17 comments

A nasty thing to happen, but it could have been worse-the bus could have been nipping along the Southern bypass. The Postwick P&R bus uses the A47 in and out of Norwich instead of the slower route through Thorpe. I think the upper limit for older buses is 70mph on dual carriageways-but even 60mph seems quite fast enough for a bus full of people, especially when there are passengers standing, and no seat belts fitted. Seems strange that car passengers have to wear seat belts and lorries are restricted to 50mph but double decker buses aren't subject to these safety measures and amazing that a passenger vehicle should be allowed to carry standing passengers at speed.

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Daisy Roots

Sunday, May 22, 2011
Duke Of Burlingham clearly not educated enough to realise the risks of another explosion as cars pass only feet away from the bus. Maybe you are very well educated and just had a funny turn :p

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chebram71

Friday, May 20, 2011
Google produced the following at http:www.lrws.gov.sk.catires "A 20-inch (50.8 cm) tire inflated to100 psi (689.5 kpa) can contain up to 40,000 lbs (178 kn) of explosive force." And as I said two tyres on each side, plus it would potentially also blast chunks of molten or flaming rubber, bit of loose body work, dried mud with now very hot stones in it. When my tyre burst, it was a near side tyre, but it brought a busy main road to a standstill for the best part of a minute as the road was blanketed in a think cloud of dust from the wheel arch. Tyres are potential killers.

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el84

Friday, May 20, 2011
The important thing is that no one was killed or injured. Damaged buses can be repairedreplaced as can the road surface. Life can not.

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owllady

Friday, May 20, 2011
It's not just the fuel tank that can explode in a fire with potentially fatal consequences. Tyres also explode & there are two on each axle at the back, which is where the fire looked to be concentrated. I once had one tyre exsplode on a bus as I was driving it. The tyre bend a piece of steel quarter inch thick that was about 6 to 9 inches away. passing car passengers maybe further away, but their faces & the glass that separates them from that tyre are far less able to take an impact.

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el84

Friday, May 20, 2011
What if, what if, imagine the consequences, what might have happend...Even if the fuel tank had exploded, it hardly would have been a repeat of 77. 'Slightly' more watered down, just a bus that caught fire in Norfolk. What would you have done, dashed to phone box to do your Clark Kent impression...

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Duke of Burlingham

Friday, May 20, 2011
Ha

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Duke of Burlingham

Friday, May 20, 2011
Norfolk and Good, crazy would not be the word i'd use, stupid would be better. If there had been another explosion as a car went passed you can imagine the consequences. Maybe those idiots would miss eastenders and put themselves at risk . What numpties !!

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chebram71

Friday, May 20, 2011
Are cars really driving past with the bus burning like that??? CRAZY!

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Norfolk and Good

Thursday, May 19, 2011
flippin hell have I just switched onto an episode of Eggheads on BBC2?

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chebram71

Thursday, May 19, 2011
Ziggy... it’s it’s!

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Pink Duck

Thursday, May 19, 2011
I captured it on my Dashcam. You can see it at http:www.youtube.comwatch?v=GBTn7ycF4mE

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Tony Sutton

Thursday, May 19, 2011
Knew the prototype for an afterburner to beat congestion was not a wise move

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chebram71

Thursday, May 19, 2011
Cupboard....focus now.... its "your"....

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Ziggy

Thursday, May 19, 2011
We were driving past just as the back of the bus really got going, what a heat! Top marks to the bus driver for spotting the flames before it was a real problem.

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billyspiller

Thursday, May 19, 2011
If the spelling errors on this site is you're only concern your doing all right.Eevacuating 40+ people off a burning double decker bus before is really get a gorn is some rum good gorn. Congratulations to the bus driver for his actions!!!

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Cupboard

Thursday, May 19, 2011
Is a round-a-bout similar to a roundabout?

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angry taxpayer

Thursday, May 19, 2011