Bus traffic in and around Tienen has been seriously disrupted.
A devastating fire destroyed a large part of Multiobus, a bus company located in the industrial park of Tienen, last night. The incident not only shocked the surrounding area due to heavy smoke development and flames that could be seen from afar, but it also has serious consequences for mobility in the region and ambitions in the field of sustainable transport. A total of 24 buses went up in flames, 13 of which were brand new electric ones.
“The depot is completely burned out. 24 buses, of which thirteen electric and eleven diesel buses, went up in flames," says mayor Katrien Partyka (CD&V). “Fortunately there are no casualties. The fire is now under control. Fortunately, the fire brigade was able to prevent the flames from spreading to other buildings in the area.”
The Tienen transport company Multiobus and the Dutch Ebusco signed a cooperation contract at Busworld in Brussels earlier last week.
Multiobus is a subcontractor of De Lijn and is known as a forerunner in the transition to electric bus transport. A few years ago, the company had invested heavily in a new warehouse with special electric charging installations. The fire broke out in this warehouse in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
tragic
The timing of the incident is downright tragic, considering the company recently... new agreement had concluded with Ebusco, a leading player in the development of electric buses and charging systems. Ebusco would supply 20 new Ebusco 2.2 buses to Multiobus, a decision that would continue the six-year partnership between the two companies. Olivier Van Mullem, the CEO of Multiobus, even expressed outspoken confidence in the joint future and emphasized that both companies stuck to their vision of electric mobility, despite the fact that this vision had often been questioned in the past.
The impact of this fire goes beyond just the material damage. It also raises questions about the safety of electric charging installations and the consequences for the rollout of electric public transport. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it is clear that the route to sustainable mobility in the region has suffered a serious setback. The cause of the fire is currently still under investigation. The bus company is also looking for alternatives for bus transport together with De Lijn, because 24 buses cannot be used today.
bad timing
On the day of the major fire in the warehouse with special electric charging installations in Tienen, the Flemish government is launching, within the 'Clean Power for Transport' policy framework, a call for projects around 'public charging infrastructure on private domain'. The subsidy focuses on projects for the rollout of public charging infrastructure for normal and high power for electric passenger cars and vans. This on private property or in parking buildings that belong to the public domain.
