New Trolleys

Started by Dashing Dan, August 31, 2011, 09:23:56 AM

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Dashing Dan

August 31, 2011, 09:23:56 AM
Has anyone noticed that the JTA has acquired stretched versions of its "PCT" trolleys?

I think I'm a bigger fan of the PCT than anyone else on this page, but I'm not sure how I feel about these vehicles. 

They are looking more and more like regular buses.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.  - Benjamin Franklin

thelakelander

#1
August 31, 2011, 09:33:30 AM
I haven't noticed.  However, I do wonder what are their operating costs compared to regular buses.  Are they more energy efficient?  Do they get better gas mileage?  Do they last longer?  Just wondering.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Ocklawaha

#2
September 04, 2011, 10:12:18 PM Last Edit: September 04, 2011, 10:22:45 PM by Ocklawaha
Quote from: thelakelander on August 31, 2011, 09:33:30 AM
I haven't noticed.  However, I do wonder what are their operating costs compared to regular buses.  Are they more energy efficient?  Do they get better gas mileage?  Do they last longer?  Just wondering.

First, in spite of both Gillig and JTA'S marketing these as 'trolleys', they are neither good imitations of rail based trolley vehicles nor anything like trolley buses, either of which would be true trolley's.

According to the Gillig website the 35 footers seat 32 passengers. A check of several operators websites suggests that they average 4-8 mpg. (The upper end isn't too bad, as an over-the-road Eagle 10 motor coach circa 1985 would get about 9 mpg). The new Gillig's are built on the chassis/engine components of the Gillig Low Floor city bus.

Life expectancy? My professional opinion is 1-2 million miles on the 'bus' portion of the vehicle but FTA regulations will hold them to less. The FUBAR comes into play when one factors in the huge amount of plastic and cheap plywood veneer tacked to interior surfaces. Gillig's are already known for window leaks and resulting side panel insulation turning into wet sponges, toss in some nice plywood and it's pretty easy to project what is going to happen as they age. Quick somebody order a can or two of that 'Flex Seal' as seen on TV.


This is the new Proterra Electric Bus...

These sloppy fakes are an intelligence insulting gimmick that amounts to a waste of our transit dollars. Their ridership is no greater then a standard bus would carry and for that benefit we surrender seats and longevity.  If I was ever in charge at JTA I'd strongly support moving toward induction charged total electric shuttle buses for the urban and neighborhood circulators. It's past time to invest in REAL TROLLEYS, bus or rail.

http://www.proterra.com/index.php/products/productDetail/C23/

OCKLAWAHA
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