Floating bus tests are grounded after 60 minutes
Trials of an amphibious bus to ferry people across the River Clyde have hit technical problems… after just 60 minutes. Travel firm Stagecoach are currently testing a £700,000 floating bus which they hope will be able to replace an existing ferry service between Renfrew and Yoker.
But on its second run, the bus - which can do 60mph on roads and 8 knots in the water - suffered an issue with suspension causing it to be dry-docked.
Bosses say it was only a minor glitch and that the 'amfibus' will be back on the road (and river) tomorrow - if successful it will become Britain's first timetabled amphibious bus service.
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: "We are excited by the potential of this technology and we will be investigating how the vehicle performs in water conditions on the Clyde.
"A new 'amfibus' service would be a Scottish and UK first, providing a seamless bus connection between two important local communities. It is a great example of the potential for new transport links using the country's rivers and estuaries."
The £700,000 "amfibus" can carry 50 passengers and is built in Holland by Dutch Amphibious Transport Vehicles BV (DATV) of Nijmegen.
Stagecoach has already carried out tests of the "amfibus" in Rotterdam harbour in the Netherlands where the vehicle coped well from the wash from heavily laden barges and provided a smooth travel experience.
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Amphicoach
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