Trolleybuses in Mendoza
Encyclopedia
The Mendoza trolleybus
system is part of the public transport
network in Mendoza
, the capital city
of Mendoza Province
, Argentina
.
Opened in 1958, the system presently comprises four lines, which link the city centre with some of its metropolitan suburbs
.
On 14 February 1958, at the intersection of 9 de Julio and Necochea streets, Dr. Isidoro Bousquet formally opened Mendoza's trolleybus system. The first line to be put into service by the system's operator, the Empresa Provincial de Transporte de Mendoza (EPTM), was the Park line, also known as line number 1. To this day, that line still follows the same route (9 de Julio, Colon, Arístides Villanueva, Boulogne Sur Mer, Jorge A. Calle, Perú and Godoy streets).
The Mendoza trolleybus system has grown in recent years, with the authorization of branches connecting Godoy Cruz
with Las Heras, and the bus terminal with the National University of Cuyo
.
in Germany. After these German trolleybuses, known as Trolleybus Solingen (TS) buses, had arrived in Mendoza, the EPTM put 58 of them back into service.
The remaining 20 TS vehicles were used initially as spare parts donors. However, due to a network expansion in about 2005, even more TS vehicles were reactivated. All of the TS trolleybuses were provided with new numbers in Mendoza, and in 1997 they were reliveried in blue. Due to their German origins, they were also known in Argentina as los alemanes (the Germans). TS vehicle no. 37 was given a special task. For a time, it was used for tourist sightseeing tours, with a revised interior design and a special livery.
From April 2009, Mendoza's TS trolleybuses were successively replaced. By early March 2010, there were only eleven TS vehicles still in use. Their final operating day was 1 May 2010. It is proposed to return one of them to Germany, for preservation by the Obus-Museum Solingen e. V.
vehicles from the Vancouver trolleybus system
in Canada. They began to arrive during December 2008, together with a variety of parts, and started entering service a few months later. The Flyer vehicles were intended to allow the EPTM to improve trolleybus services, and to operate extensions of new lines that were already in service.
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
system is part of the public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
network in Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
, the capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Opened in 1958, the system presently comprises four lines, which link the city centre with some of its metropolitan suburbs
Greater Mendoza
Gran Mendoza is the name given to the large urban conurbation around the city of Mendoza in Argentina. The 2001 Census estimated the population of Gran Mendoza as 848,660 making it the 4th largest urban conurbation in Argentina....
.
History
The system traces its origins to law no 825, enacted in 1958 with the goal of making a trolleybus system one of the main means of transport in the city and the suburbs surrounding it.On 14 February 1958, at the intersection of 9 de Julio and Necochea streets, Dr. Isidoro Bousquet formally opened Mendoza's trolleybus system. The first line to be put into service by the system's operator, the Empresa Provincial de Transporte de Mendoza (EPTM), was the Park line, also known as line number 1. To this day, that line still follows the same route (9 de Julio, Colon, Arístides Villanueva, Boulogne Sur Mer, Jorge A. Calle, Perú and Godoy streets).
The Mendoza trolleybus system has grown in recent years, with the authorization of branches connecting Godoy Cruz
Godoy Cruz, Mendoza
Godoy Cruz is a city in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. It has 183,000 inhabitants as per the , and is part of the metropolitan area of the provincial capital ....
with Las Heras, and the bus terminal with the National University of Cuyo
National University of Cuyo
The National University of Cuyo is the largest center of higher education in the province of Mendoza, Argentina....
.
Past fleet
Mendoza's initial trolleybuses were a fleet of Japanese made Toshiba vehicles. In 1984, the system acquired some Russian Uritzky trolleybuses. These vehicles were then partially replaced in 1988 by 78 second hand trolleybuses that had previously operated on the Solingen trolleybus systemTrolleybuses in Solingen
The Solingen trolleybus system , also known locally as the Stangentaxi, serves the city of Solingen, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
in Germany. After these German trolleybuses, known as Trolleybus Solingen (TS) buses, had arrived in Mendoza, the EPTM put 58 of them back into service.
The remaining 20 TS vehicles were used initially as spare parts donors. However, due to a network expansion in about 2005, even more TS vehicles were reactivated. All of the TS trolleybuses were provided with new numbers in Mendoza, and in 1997 they were reliveried in blue. Due to their German origins, they were also known in Argentina as los alemanes (the Germans). TS vehicle no. 37 was given a special task. For a time, it was used for tourist sightseeing tours, with a revised interior design and a special livery.
From April 2009, Mendoza's TS trolleybuses were successively replaced. By early March 2010, there were only eleven TS vehicles still in use. Their final operating day was 1 May 2010. It is proposed to return one of them to Germany, for preservation by the Obus-Museum Solingen e. V.
Current fleet
The replacements for the TS vehicles were 80 second hand Flyer E901A/E902New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
vehicles from the Vancouver trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Vancouver
The Vancouver trolleybus system forms part of the public transport network serving Metro Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia, Canada....
in Canada. They began to arrive during December 2008, together with a variety of parts, and started entering service a few months later. The Flyer vehicles were intended to allow the EPTM to improve trolleybus services, and to operate extensions of new lines that were already in service.
See also
- List of trolleybus systems
- Metrotranvía of MendozaMetrotranvía of MendozaThe Metrotranvía of Mendoza will be a public light rail transport system for the city of Mendoza, Argentina, served by articulated light rail cars operating on newly relaid tracks in former-Ferrocarril General San Martín mainline right-of-way...