FW: Bendy poles may be just the ticket for trolley buses
Cawood, David
Sunday, May 12, 2002 8:18 PM
Subject: Bendy poles may be just the ticket for trolley buses
New bendy trolley bus poles being tested in Wellington are expected to
cut the number of times the poles slip off tht overhead power wires.
Stagecoach engineering director Allan Cannell said yesterday that the
drivers had reorted a significant drop in the number if incidents with the
new poles, which have been fitted on two buses.
Because the poles were made of lighter-weight aluminium than was currently
used and were strengthened with a flexible, black fibreglass coating.
The fibreglass gave the poles strength without detracting from their
flexibilty. A swivel base also allowed them to follow overhead wire more
easily.
Also being tested was a device that detected when a pole had detached from
the wires, and pulled it down parallel to the bus roof, making it easier for
the driver to retrieve.
"It [the new system] is less effort for the bus driver and [involves] less
time out of the bus" Mr Cannell said.
The Wellington trial of the poles is expected to run for about a year.
As weel, a new $300,000 state-of-the-art prototype trolley bus being built
by Designline in Ashburton is expected to be in use in Wellington by
mid-June.
Mr Cannell said the new, sleek design featured a floor at kerb level,
making it easier for passengers to get on and off the bus. It also had an
auxiliary engine, which would make it quieter than the exisiting 20-year-old
buses.
Stagecoach is currently negotiating with Wellington Regional Council for
funding to replace the aging trolley buse fleet of 60 buses if the prototype
proves a sucess.
The Dominion 01/05/2002
Bryce
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New bendy trolley bus poles being tested in Wellington are expected to
cut the number of times the poles slip off tht overhead power wires.
Stagecoach engineering director Allan Cannell said yesterday that the
drivers had reorted a significant drop in the number if incidents with the
new poles, which have been fitted on two buses.
Because the poles were made of lighter-weight aluminium than was currently
used and were strengthened with a flexible, black fibreglass coating.
The fibreglass gave the poles strength without detracting from their
flexibilty. A swivel base also allowed them to follow overhead wire more
easily.
Also being tested was a device that detected when a pole had detached from
the wires, and pulled it down parallel to the bus roof, making it easier for
the driver to retrieve.
"It [the new system] is less effort for the bus driver and [involves] less
time out of the bus" Mr Cannell said.
The Wellington trial of the poles is expected to run for about a year.
As weel, a new $300,000 state-of-the-art prototype trolley bus being built
by Designline in Ashburton is expected to be in use in Wellington by
mid-June.
Mr Cannell said the new, sleek design featured a floor at kerb level,
making it easier for passengers to get on and off the bus. It also had an
auxiliary engine, which would make it quieter than the exisiting 20-year-old
buses.
Stagecoach is currently negotiating with Wellington Regional Council for
funding to replace the aging trolley buse fleet of 60 buses if the prototype
proves a sucess.
The Dominion 01/05/2002
Bryce
_________________________________________________________________
Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
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