Bio-diesel trials frozen as cold spell hits bus operations

21 February 2008
 
Buses trialling bio-diesel in Norwich had to leave passengers in the cold after bitter winter temperatures froze the fuel in the vehicles’ tanks.

Bus operator First Eastern Counties has offered compensation to customers for the disruption which took place on Monday (18 February), and has currently suspended use of the fuel.

The fuel mix was being used in 130 First buses in Norwich, of which 11 were unable to start, causing ‘unprecedented disruption’ to services. Samples of the fuel have now been sent off for analysis.

First said it expected the fuel to work in temperatures as low as minus-150 C and were surprised it froze on Monday when temperatures were around minus-70 C.

The company has now returned to low-sulphur diesel fuel and taken steps to obtain supplies as soon as possible to ensure the reliability of services, and to resume the network of bus services. Peter Iddon, managing director of First Eastern Counties said the use of bio-fuel offered a green and ‘environmentally-friendly’ alternative to diesel.

But the company’s priority must be to offer ‘a safe and reliable bus service to the people of Norfolk’. First Eastern Counties said six routes were affected, and inconvenienced passengers could claim compensation in the form of an unlimited day travel ticket or, in certain circumstances, a taxi fare.

Biofuel advocates pointed out that it was still at an experimental stage and mineral diesel used to suffer similarly in the cold before the use of modern additives.

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