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Union calls for inquiry into bus and coach fires in Scotland

A TRANSPORT union has called for an inquiry into bus and coach fires in Scotland following a rising trend of dangerous incidents. 

RMT representatives said that blazes must be “thoroughly investigated” after new figures showed the number of fires rose for three consecutive years. 

Statistics obtained by the Scotsman newspaper using freedom of information requests showed that there have been more than 200 incidents in Scotland since 2015.

The total number of fires tackled by firefighters increased from 31 in 2015-16 to 32 the following year and it went up again to 43 in 2017-18.

It rose for a third year to 48 in 2018-19 but fell by one last year, and has reached 12 so far in 2020-21, although the number of bus journeys have been substantially cut by the Covid-19 pandemic.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “These figures show a concerning increase in the number of bus fires in Scotland recorded in recent years.

“We believe it is important that this trend is thoroughly investigated and action taken to tackle the causes of bus fires.

“RMT has longstanding concerns about the risks to bus workers and passengers of vehicle fires.”

The latest figures include a coach catching fire while transporting schoolchildren in Livingston in 2019, while nine people were injured since 2015 in bus fires. 

RMT has warned that the figures obtained in Scotland are mirrored by a spate of fires on buses across south-west England.

Mr Cash added: “There should be a consistent, industry-wide approach to bus safety which ensures all operators are complying with their health and safety duties.”

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