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The first of seven new electric tugs delivered

The new vehicles will be used to move heavy loads like laundry and clinical waste, operating along more than two miles of service corridors beneath Addenbrooke's and the Rosie.

Simon Castle sat on a yellow tug with Pete Gallagher from Electricars Tow Tractors Ltd and staff from the environmental services team standing around the tug
The first new tug is delivered

The new tugs will be replacing older, inefficient tugs that after 20 to 40 years’ service are due for retirement.

Like their predecessors, the new tugs run on electricity so produce zero emissions and make minimal noise as they move around the corridors.

But they have much more efficient batteries that need charging less often and last longer.

The tugs run along service corridors not open to patients and rarely visited by staff.

It’s where a lot of the vital activities happen that keep the hospital heated, the lights on and the water running.

It’s also very busy with more than 20 tugs moving goods throughout the day.

Pete Gallagher from Electricars Tow Tractors outside standing in front of the new tug, passing the key to porter Simon Castle who is sat on the tug
Pete Gallagher from Electricars Tow Tractors, passes the key to shift supervisor Simon Castle

The first tug was handed over to CUH’s estates team by Pete Gallagher of Electricars Tow Tractors, who passed the key to shift supervisor Simon Castle, pictured seated on the tug.