GLT / TVR - Caen

The TVR in Caen, also seen are brief views of the GLT prototype in Belgium and the TVR in Nancy.

The GLT concept was for an electric bus which can also use a central guiding rail to operate as a self-steering guided bus / rubber tyred tram. This is how it is used in Caen, although it travels between the tramline and the bus garage / depot as a normal diesel powered bus.

Also look out for the other GLT / TVR films showing the prototype and Nancy versions.

Filmed in 2003.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• GLT
• TVR
• Caen
• bus
• tram
• on
• rubber
• tyre
• tire
• streetcar
• trolleybus
• electric
• trolley
• public
• transport
• transit

[davidsonguy24]

este video é maravilhoso ! parabens!

Thank you very much

[citytransportinfo]

@davidsonguy24

Thankyou I am pleased you liked it

:-)

Simon

[Intransitman]

Hey it's a monorail!

[citytransportinfo]

@Intransitman

in a way, yes, it is!

[ashita100]

shame

[citytransportinfo]

Caen has a big problem because its system has been successful - is operating at capacity - so it needs more vehicles, plus it wants to expand the route network and even build more lines... but it does not want as many as 20 vehicles which the builder says is the minimum number that will make it financially viable to re-open the production line.

Because the TVR is tied to one manufacturer they cannot easily go to someone else and source compatible vehicles, as is possible with ordinary trams.

[citytransportinfo]

this facility was not built into the TVR version used in Caen and Nancy.

other features which were lost is the full reversibility (when in guided mode the prototypes could be driven in either direction) and the high seating capacity of the vehicles. The present vehicles only seat something like 41 passengers.

(cont...)

[citytransportinfo]

agreed.

What really 'did it in' for this system was that there were some problems with the vehicles derailing.

I have no information about the prototypes, but both Caen and especially Nancy have had a few accidents with vehicles 'coming off' the guiderail. OK, only a handful of times and mostly when the system were new, but it did happen.

Other issues include that whilst the prototypes were designed for multiple unit operation of two (or more) coupled together as trains,

(cont...)

[ashita100]

ah

However the system would still be a lot cheaper and more flexible than full trams

flexible from the fact it can run as normal bus as well tram and trolleybus

[citytransportinfo]

yes, perhaps, but this system DOES use rails sunk in the ground - and NOT use raise kerbs.

You are thinking of kerb guided buses / O-Bahn, which is a rival technology and uses slightly modified but otherwise normal buses.

Simon