Land ahoy! Amphibious bus plan sinks after floating coach breaks down just 60 minutes into test run

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All aboard: The trial of the amphibious bus capable of travelling on water and roads will begin today

An amphibious bus that can travel on water and roads was grounded today - less than an hour after taking to the water.

Trials of the 'amfibus' on the River Clyde had to be abandoned because of a technical problem.

Operators Stagecoach were carrying out a two-day test and demonstration of the bus between Renfrew and Yoker this morning.

But the trial was interrupted on the second run when the bus developed a problem with its suspension as it drove up the slipway at Renfrew.


The £700,000 Dutch-made vehicle can carry 50 passengers and may replace the ferry service between Renfrew and Yoker, which is to be scrapped to save money


The tests may continue later today or tomorrow once engineers have resolved the glitch.

Stagecoach spokesman Steve Stewart said: 'We had a couple of trips very smoothly back and forward across the Clyde but when we came back on one of the journeys part of the suspension which involves an airbag popped out so we are going to have to do some work to put that back in.

'But it's all part of the challenges that you face when you have a technical trial and that will go back into the evaluation process.'

Stagecoach had intended to have two hours of tests this morning but had to stop after half an hour.

Based on a bus chassis, the amfibus uses a hull that allows the vehicle to float.

While it operates like a normal coach on the road, when it is in water it is driven by twin water jets and can achieve a speed of eight knots.


An amfibus has never been used in the UK for commuters. The technology has only been used for leisure and excursions


Land ahoy: The amphibious bus emerges from the River Clyde after a successful test run

The £700,000 Dutch-made vehicle can carry 50 passengers and may replace the ferry service between Renfrew and Yoker, which is to be scrapped to save money.

The 500-year-old service will stop running in March because operators Strathclyde Partnership for Transport said it needs to save money.

An amfibus has never been used in the UK for commuters. The technology has only been used for leisure and excursions, Stagecoach said.

Mr Stewart said: 'We though that the bus would be particularly suited to linking the two sides of the Clyde where you can have one seamless journey from one side to the other.


Workers near an amphibious bus that encountered problems during a press preview on the River Clyde


Stagecoach has already tested the amfibus in Rotterdam, where it said the vehicle performed well


'We often look at our rivers and estuaries and see them as a bit of a barrier to travel but we actually think they can be a link between two communities.

'This service we think has got big potential.'

The amfibus would use slipways at Renfrew and Yoker although they would need to be extended beyond the sill at the end of the ramps so it can work at all tide levels.

Stagecoach has already tested the amfibus in Rotterdam, where it said the vehicle performed well. It is also involved in a joint project with New York Waterways operating an amfibus which does leisure trips on the Hudson River in New York.

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