Buses stopping for fuel mid-route

[mb88]

Several times recently I have noticed buses on my local route (operated by Stuart’s of Carluke) in a petrol station whilst in service and with passengers on board filling up with diesel. I can only assume that the vehicles used (Mercedes Benz Sprinter minibuses) cannot last a full day on the road on a single tank.

I was wondering if anyone has other examples of this practice happening? I must admit it’s a strange sight to see passengers sat there on a bus while the driver puts fuel in it. Are there not safety implications to consider here? Or is it more common than I think?

 

[Eyersey468]

Several times recently I have noticed buses on my local route (operated by Stuart’s of Carluke) in a petrol station whilst in service and with passengers on board filling up with diesel. I can only assume that the vehicles used (Mercedes Benz Sprinter minibuses) cannot last a full day on the road on a single tank.

I was wondering if anyone has other examples of this practice happening? I must admit it’s a strange sight to see passengers sat there on a bus while the driver puts fuel in it. Are there not safety implications to consider here? Or is it more common than I think?

When EYMS's 52 registered Plaxton Presidents entered service at Driffield depot on the 121 service they were often having to be fuelled during the day as the fuel tanks weren't big enough

 

[carlberry]

Several times recently I have noticed buses on my local route (operated by Stuart’s of Carluke) in a petrol station whilst in service and with passengers on board filling up with diesel. I can only assume that the vehicles used (Mercedes Benz Sprinter minibuses) cannot last a full day on the road on a single tank.

I was wondering if anyone has other examples of this practice happening? I must admit it’s a strange sight to see passengers sat there on a bus while the driver puts fuel in it. Are there not safety implications to consider here? Or is it more common than I think?

It may be that they're being parked somewhere that might be prone to fuel theft. The safety implications arent really much higher than being on the road (fuel stations rarely catch fire), the inconvience and annoyance factor would outweight it I would have thought which is why most operators would avoid it.

 

[mb88]

It may be that they're being parked somewhere that might be prone to fuel theft. The safety implications arent really much higher than being on the road (fuel stations rarely catch fire), the inconvience and annoyance factor would outweight it I would have thought which is why most operators would avoid it.

Yes I suppose you’re right it would be more the inconvenience than anything. Their buses are parked in a secure yard so I wouldn’t imagine fuel theft is the issue. When I say recently I’ve noticed it, I mean in the past few months. The last 2/3 weeks or so (since fuel prices went sky high) it’s been Optare Solos appearing on it and I’ve yet to see one of them being fuelled, which is what led me to believe the Sprinters don’t have a big enough fuel tank.

 

[Eyersey468]

Not strictly a bus but sometimes we have had to put some fuel in the NX coaches mid route especially if we have had to do a lengthy diversion. I remember one time we had to top the coach up at Louth to be sure of getting back due to a road closure earlier in the day using up the margin there was

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Back in the day (pre-1986) EYMS & WYRC had a joint route, Leeds-Tadcaster-York-Pocklington branching to Bridlington (744) and Hull (746). West Yorks invariably used Plaxton Supreme dual-purpose style bodied Leopards and one diagram heading west at roughly lunchtime called in at the (now closed) York depot close to Walmgate Bar for fuel. Made for an anxious few minutes as I was often heading for a specific train from York. But as I was somewhat in to buses back then it did allow for some interesting sightings. I'm guessing that diagram either started or finished the day at one of the eastern termini and WYRC were avoiding the administrative faff of "purchasing" fuel from EYMS.

 

[Tom Gallacher]

I was talking to one of my customers (who has a fleet of about 50 buses and coaches) the other day about the fuel prices situation and he told me that he has given all his drivers cards and told them to fill up every day whenever they are out on the road. He has a 10,000 ltr tank in the yard that he is keeping full as his reserve in case the situation gets out of control.

 

[mb88]

Just to clarify my point, I know it is common practice among some smaller operators that drivers fill their buses up at petrol stations on their way back to the depot in the evening. And that even at larger operators some buses may be required to return to the depot during the day for refuelling. What I was specifically referring to is buses going into a petrol station whilst in service and with passengers on board.

 

[farwest]

I can remember the Western Greyhound 501 regularly stopping to top up on its way to Lands end in the morning from Penzance.

 

[M803UYA]

I can remember the Western Greyhound 501 regularly stopping to top up on its way to Lands end in the morning from Penzance.

This was standard operational practice for Western Greyhound throughout it's operating area.

 

[Martin1988]

I remember several years ago being on the old 201 route (Gloucester to Thornbury) operated by Mike's Travel and stopping at a petrol station just outside Charfield for fuel.

Have also been on two Megabus journeys between Birmingham and Bristol where the coach has diverted into a petrol station on the M5 to refuel. I'm pretty sure it was the same service both times. The old M36 route from Newcastle to Plymouth.

 

[Lucan]

Perhaps an even more unusual sight :
I was once involved in road testing a London Transport Routemaster. We were out in the Surrey countryside and stopped for lunch in a nice little pub in a quiet village. By the looks on their faces, the handful of other customers and the barman could hardly believe that they were seeing a big red double decker parked outside the window. I think they were relieved when only four of us came in. Our test driver only had an orange juice.

 

[urpert]

I’ve experienced this on various Eurolines services and also on Flixbus in Croatia.

 

[route101]

Only once. National Express 591 from London to Edinburgh, we stopped for fuel just outside Alnwick on the A1.

 

[randyrippley]

going back 30 or so years I've been a couple of times on Ribble buses which went into one of their depots to refuel.
Once Lancaster (Skerton), once Garstang
very rare!