Kings Cross shut this am - emergency vehicle question

[ducatisti]

Apparently a person under a train. NOT THE SUBJECT OF THIS QUESTION

In th past, I've seen a fire engine painted up in LU colours (pottering round Camden), which I understand is the LU emergency response team.

Did't see that, but did see a long wheelbase heavy-duty van in BTP colours with roll doors all down the side. Which would presumably be able to carry the same sort of thing as the emergency responsevan. After talk during the olympics about having the emergency response team able to run under blues and twos, has this role been merged into BTP, or is this a different thing?

Something of a failure of LU/NR harmonisation - no tannoy in the main station about this, leaving LU staff to deal with a lot of surprised (and cross) commuters.

[Chris M]

The BTP-painted "fire engine" is the TfL emergency response vehicle that can run under blue lights. There was a thread about it when it was new, but I can't find that now.

[Dstock7080]

Possibly the two vehicles you're discussing?

www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/6846744459/in/set-72157619962666324
©bowroaduk

[ducatisti]

Yup - what looked like the white one I used to see round Camden (possibly and earlier iteration?) and the blue one was parked up outside KX today.

[roboverground]

Based just up the road between St Pancras & Camden Town , I understand the smaller vehicle is used when no suitably trained HGV driver is available, drivers coming from a pool of British Transport Police 'advanced' drivers not all HGV trained.
I've only ever noticed the Iveco when the Mercedes is not present and vice versa.
bed-pan.homestead.com/BTPIveco.jpg
The 'Boss' response car not bad either
bed-pan.homestead.com/ERU-DM_-_Copy.JPG
Network Rail also doing similar by having operations managers co respond in BTP vehicles, primarily within the M25 sphere, the ERU lettering can just be made out under the rear side window under the force crest and railway logo
bed-pan.homestead.com/btpERU.JPG