| Buses: heating Posted by Mark A at 15:33, 11th February 2026 |     |
The weather's not exactly been warm and is set to cool down for a bit, which makes me wonder why heating on buses in Bristol and Bath is so hit and miss, with some routes provisioned with buses that either have no heating or have it disabled. Other things aside, it can't be easy for staff, some of whom look as though they're wearing every item of warm clothing that's compatible with still being able to sit on the seat in the cab.
Mark
| Re: Buses: heating Posted by bobm at 16:03, 11th February 2026 | |
I was on a bus out of Bath in last month's cold weather. Some fresh air fiend got on by the Abbey and opened three of the windows with great ceremony.... and then got off four stops later!
| Re: Buses: heating Posted by JayMac at 18:36, 11th February 2026 | |
There have been many complaints on social media about cold buses on the First bus services that radiate (sic) from Taunton. The complaints have been about the new electric fleet not having sufficient warmth.
| Re: Buses: heating Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:41, 11th February 2026 | |
There are, of course, other ways of heating a bus: see also https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7528.0
| Re: Buses: heating Posted by broadgage at 13:27, 13th February 2026 | |
There have been many complaints on social media about cold buses on the First bus services that radiate (sic) from Taunton. The complaints have been about the new electric fleet not having sufficient warmth.
Heating a diesel bus should be easy, there is almost unlimited free heat from the engine.
With an electric bus, it is more challenging since every KWH used for heating depletes the battery. I would hope that the loses in the power electronics are recycled and used for heating. These loses are relatively small and probably only a few KW but every little helps.
ANY type of bus may be pre-heated before use by mains electricity, and on a diesel bus the engine may also be preheated.
