Last new-generation trolley bus hits the roads

GO Wellington today launched the last of the new generation trolley buses to be delivered under a fleet replacement programme which began in December 2007.

The new trolley buses, built by New Zealand-based bus and coach manufacturer DesignLine, replace an ageing Wellington fleet, which first entered service in 1981.

A contract was signed between Greater Wellington Regional Council and NZ Bus in May 2007. Costing more than half a million dollars each, the buses not only provide environmental benefits but are a significant step up in increased passenger comfort, and reliability.

“It’s exciting to have the last of the buses roll onto the roads,” says Bruce Emson, Chief Executive of NZ Bus (GO Wellington’s parent company). “These are bespoke vehicles with designs adapted to Wellington for Wellingtonians. We are justifiably proud of them.”

The custom-designed buses offer customers an innovative and environmentally friendly form of public transport. They are a quiet, sustainable form of transport using primarily renewable energy sources, and produce no emissions at street level.

“We are delighted to have the entire fleet available for use on Wellington’s roads. Trolley buses are unique to Wellington and a much loved icon of our city,” says Fran Wilde, Chairperson of Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Building a bespoke vehicle has its own unique challenges. “This has been a technically demanding project,” Mr. Emson says. “The design and manufacture of this fleet has involved some complicated technology integration, involving components sourced from New Zealand, Brazil and China. We have had to identify solutions to a number of problems along the way. As is usual with new vehicles, most of these problems have only become apparent once the buses have gone into continuous operation.”

“As part of the normal commissioning programme, we’ve put in place a programme of work to rectify these issues including some design changes and modifications. While most of the problems have been cosmetic, some have had the potential to impact service reliability and we’re working with our suppliers in New Zealand and Brazil and technical advisers in New Zealand to put solutions in place.”
“Whilst all the new trolley buses have now entered service, the remedial programme will require four buses to be out of service at any one time until the programme is completed just before Christmas,” says Mr. Emson. “We will be operating extra diesel buses as a stopgap measure while the trolley remedial programme is underway, and I am confident that there will be no inconvenience to our customers during this process.”

“It’s important to point out that there is no risk to passenger or staff safety. This is not an unusual situation with a fleet of new vehicles – most new buses have some settling-in problems. And it’s more likely with bespoke vehicles such as these trolley buses than with off the shelf vehicles. Similar problems occurred when the previous trolley bus fleet was introduced in 1981.”