Students attending schools under the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) and the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) will resume bus transportation to their classes on Monday. Both boards announced through social media posts that their fleets of Lion electric buses are now operational. EMSB Chairperson Joe Ortona confirmed the readiness of their buses, stating that all Lion electric buses have been repaired and inspected. The LBPSB also completed safety inspections on its fleet and expressed gratitude for the community’s patience during the past week.
The decision to temporarily halt service for around 1,200 Lion buses was made following a bus fire incident earlier this month. The manufacturer, Lion, instructed providers to replace a fuse on both electric and diesel buses. First Student, the parent company of Transco which owned the bus that caught fire, reported that approximately 30% of its Lion fleet had undergone inspections and repairs by last week.
Despite initial expectations of buses gradually returning to service starting Monday, Lion urged operators to conduct additional inspections on both electric and diesel models. First Student attributed the delay in resuming service to the availability of replacement parts, stating that buses are currently at different stages of inspection and repair. They assured that efforts are underway to expedite the process and get the buses back on the road soon.
