New Flyer Trolleybuses in Vancouver

Some more trolley shots, unlike the last set this one includes footage of E60LFRs as well as E40LFRs. Stay tuned for more trolley related things, because there will be more, why? because trolleybuses are awesome!

With Edmonton's dumb decision to cancel trolley service Vancouver is left with the last trolley fleet in Canada which is second only in size to San Francisco in North America.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• TransLink
• New
• Flyer
• E40LFR
• E60LFR
• trolleybus
• Coast
• Mountain
• Bus
• Company
• Vancouver
• transit

[Myrtone]

And I'm sure that a trolleybus colud go faster than 60 with better maintained and designed overhead wires and collectors.

[VancouversLocalNerd]

@Myrtone That's true, in fact there is an express wire for deadheading buses on Hastings street that is rated for speeds of up to 80 km/h however the cost of upgrading the entire network to high speed rated wire would be outrageous.

[Myrtone]

3. If one trolleybus breaks down in front of another, surely its poles will be lowered to allow the pasage of others.

4. If their speeding damaged the overhead wires, they would be face heavy penalties and maybe lose their licences if they do it repeatedly.

[Myrtone]

2. Batteries in a typical electric car are heavy specfically because they are needed for their full milage. Given how extensive and comprehensive the overhead wiring system is in Vancouver, just how much freedom of movement do trolleybuses have with their limited off wire use. If the overhead wire network is sufficintely extensive and comprehensive, the batteries don't need to last long, they can be small light and free from aesbestos-like nanomaterials.

[VancouversLocalNerd]

@Myrtone

1. fair enough.

2. Batteries are heavy, the ones on trolleybuses are small and do not last long enough to be practical for regular off-wire use, this is why plug-in hybrids lack a full electric mode.

3. fine, but what if someone breaks down in front of you and there isn't a switch for another hundred feet?

4. No, but people do it anyway, why risk damging the wires over it.

5. electronically controlled switches are expensive and more prone to failure than power/coast switches.

[Myrtone]

5. In Vancourver, so I've read, you still use coast and power wire switches, but your busses have directional indicators so upgrading to an indicator opeatred switch would make it a lot easier. Proffesional or not drivers need licences for a reason, they all need to know the rules, with this system in place, surely learners would get such training before being allowed to drive in straight electric mode.

[Myrtone]

@VancouversLocalNerd

1. Yes the road users would pay for electricity too.

2. Wires would not be needed on every street, electric cars would still have batteries for off wire maneuveres, just as modern trolleybuses do, one thing I dislike about electric cars and plug-in hybrids is the lack of a straight-electric mode.

3. Extra sets of wires would be provided if the traffic levels justify.

4. Is anyone allowed to gon any faster then that on Vancouver's streets?

[VancouversLocalNerd]

@Myrtone A lot of reasons, most are to do with practicality:

- The electricity isn't free, TransLink pays BC Hydro for it.

- The cost to place wires and switches on every single street would be far too high.

- Trolley vehicles can't pass other trolley vehicles unless they are on different sets of wires.

- Speed is limited to 60 km/h or else the wires could be damaged.

- extensive training is required to navigate switches, allowing non-pro drivers to use them would cause constant de-wirements.

[Myrtone]

@VancouversLocalNerd So why then coludn't other vehicles such as cars be powered with these wires?

[VancouversLocalNerd]

@kilt41 Yes, some are directly controlled by a switch on the dash whereas most are activated electrically with the accelerator pedal, coast through to go one way, accelerate through to go the other.