Developments in Wellington

I was sent the report below from another email group (hence the >s). It is a
good summary of the current status of the new trolleybus development
programme in Wellington.

Cheers,

Brent Efford
TechMedia Services
Co-ordinator, Transport 2000+ NZ
PO Box 2626, Wellington 6015
New Zealand
[email protected]
Ph (04) 801 9331, Fx (04) 801 9344
Mob 025 887 387
www.techmedia.co.nz

1 There are two simultaneous developments underway - first is the
prototype bus (was 206, then 301, now 206 again). This is effectively a

new

monocoque bodied vehicle with front and rear axles from the original 206

(a

Volvo B58), and the traction motor. In looks it is identical to the new
1300 group of buses, of which we are to receive 60 this year and 60 next
year. This body style is more curved than our earlier units in the

500,600

& 700 series - very similar to the 800s delivered last year to Auckland.
The telma retarder is being discarded and new electrical controls are

being

built here in NZ. Bus will be low floor with kneeling facility. On this
vehicle original pole bases and retrievers are being retained for the
moment. Also being recycled is the auxillary group. The bus will have
regenerative braking, with a braking resistance mounted on the roof. The
new control group will reduce substantially the noise associated with the
existing buses, which have high levels of fan noise - the fans are

required

to move substantial volumes of air round the existing control group to

keep

them cool. Noise assocaited with the auxillary group will be reduced in

the

production models (hopefully - see next bit).

2 The second development is an existing Series II trolley (from 234
upwards) which is to be refered to as the test bus. It is to be a mobile
test bed for powered pole bases (which will replace the retracting
retrievers) new rope spools on the rear with microswitching to detect
dewirements - these will activate the powered trolley bases (sourced from
Beijing) to lower dewired poles. Pole bases will also be fitted with
switches to detect excessive pole angle, which will also cause them to
retract. A new auxillary group is being assembled - based around an
inverter sourced from Brazil, which will output 28v dc for aux power, and
400v ac to run compressor and power steering pump - both of which will be
made us as integral units (no belts - loss of a major cause of vehicle
failure here) - will also be quieter. Both buses will be fitted with
locally developed lightweight trolleypoles, which have a conductor
integrated into their structure - so no wires to break. There are a

number

of other new (to Wellington at least) developements that are to be

trialled

on this bus... including an earth leakage detection and safelty system we
are sourcing from Seattle....

3 Planning sees these two buses used to sell the idea of the "Third
Generation" of trolleys to local pollys and transport administrators.

While

there is sympathy and support for the system locally, the question of
dollars is an issue.... Stagecoach is willing to put its money up front
showing that the Trolleybus is indeed a viable and attractive way forward.
A major plus is that the NZ made control gear is substantially lighter

than

the BBC gear it is superseeding and is capable of handing regenerated
current.... which the old gear couldn't. Another new developement will

be

the insertion of a resistor circuit which will be used to trigger switch
changes independently of the power pedal.... apparently our Ansaldo equipt
B10Ms have a similar system...

4 Reporting back on the two trolleys currently fitted with the

composite

poles was very positive - a concern was expressed that their wire holding
ability did encourage people to drive faster than they would otherwise,

with

a reduction in comfort levels for customers. An unexpected benefit has
been much improved carbon life, which we think also indicates less stress
and wear on the contact wire and special work.

So... all good fun down here at the end of the earth...

(and the new buses might get noise levels back down to where they were

with

our old BUTs.....)

Peter Rendall
[email protected]

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