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.

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.

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.