Dozens of USB charging sockets installed on Blackpool Transport’s new fleet of Palladium buses have been vandalised.
The operator is now removing all USB charging sockets from the table space on 25 of its new buses, having replaced more than 27 individual charging ports in the space of a few weeks.
Vandals have poured sugary drinks over them to corrode the electronics, stuffed them with chewing gum and intentionally disconnected wiring.
Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport, says “We were delighted to introduce social seating with USB charging points as part of our fleet upgrade.
“Having replaced the USB ports numerous times in the space of just six weeks, we can no longer sustain the cost of doing so and all USB charging ports will be removed in the coming weeks.”
