Which remaining trolleybus networks still use proper pure trolleybuses.

[stadler]

Which places still have proper pure trolleybuses these days? By this i mean trolleybuses that can not operate away from the wires?

The majority of newer Trolleybuses built in the last two decades seem to always have either a backup battery motor or a backup diesel motor to enable them to operate off the wires for short distances if there are road closures or there is an obstruction etc. Traditionally in the past trolleybuses were always built as pure trolleybuses with no ability to operate off the wires. So if it was not connected to the wires than it could not move. They never use to be built with a backup diesel power or backup battery power until the last decade or two.

I believe all five remaining trolleybus networks in the USA and Canada use entirely hybrid vehicles that have either a backup battery motor or a backup diesel motor and they have no proper pure trolleybuses left. I believe the same also applies for the Arnhem and Prague and Riga networks and presumably quite a few other European ones.

I am just curious which places still have these proper pure trolleybuses which have no backup battery or backup diesel and are unable to operate at all off the wires? Do any of the remaining trolleybuses in Europe still use these? Also have any of the recently built trolleybuses been built like this? I presume you can still order proper pure trolleybuses without the battery backup or diesel backup?

 

[signed]

Maybe the networks still using Soviet models, like the ZiU-9, of which the English Wikipedia page mentions no off-the-wires functions.

I am sure those doesn't exist in the  west because of ever more stringent safety regulations + it makes the network much more flexible in the event of disruption

 

[Buzby]

As I recall even on the Glasgow network in the 60’s, all these vehicles had battery power (using lead acid cells). They were limited to around 8mph and had limited capacity, (for distance) but did provide the ability to reposition themselves away from the wires - it was a standard feature, but it wouldn’t be called a hybrid in any meaningful way - it was like a milk float!

 

[Beebman]

I'd guess that the trolleybuses in Valparaiso, Chile are all-electric - according to Wikipedia the newest vehicles are some ex-Santiago ones built in 1991.

 

[dutchflyer]

By Now I think at least half of all remaining trolley-networks are in the Soviet/Rossye. And these mostly are full-old-style 100% SIU electric.
China may also have a few left-but most of their old-style networks have been abolished or replaced by giant new metro-networks.
Then come the east-EUR networks, many still operating in CZ, RO, BG, and a few also in SK - PL - HU and just 1 in Bosnia and Serbije and GReece and a dozen or so still running in Ukrayna-a few of these happy with 2nd hand old western units on all eletric.
There is a site , like urbanrail for metro/tram, dedicated to trolley: trolleymotion, its mostly in german and run by a Swiss. Check if that has more info.
Be happy-OTOH there seems to be a kind of reprieve to keep on networks in the west, the more modern ones, as its now so much more easy to have units running only partly on the wires-and partly on other sectors having loaded up on those wires-in stead of complete abolishment

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Most of the vehicles on the former UK networks had traction batteries to get around road works etc if necessary. In Ashton-u-Lyne in Gtr Manchester the depot (still standing) and its approaches were not wired, so trolleybuses needed to use their batteries to get 'home'.

 

[DelphDonkey]

Most of the vehicles on the former UK networks had traction batteries to get around road works etc if necessary. In Ashton-u-Lyne in Gtr Manchester the depot (still standing) and its approaches were not wired, so trolleybuses needed to use their batteries to get 'home'.

Mossley Road depot in Ashton, and the link thereto from the town centre, was wired. https://flic.kr/p/zuCyFv

 

[John Webb]

London Trolleybuses were equipped with batteries to allow short-distance travel for manoeuvring purposes - what a shame there are none left at work.....

 

[Vespa]

As did Cardiff they used traction batteries, I remember reading somewhere a trolleybus driver.in Cardiff took a junction onto the wrong route and tried to use the traction batteries to short cut to the correct route and it stopped short of the wires, they were some distance apart.

 

[Thames99]

Reading trolleybuses also had batteries. I was on one once when it had to turn short along Kings Road as the lines further on had been damaged by a high vehicle. The bus reversed into a side street and then crossed to the other sideof the roadusing its battery so it could reattach the poles and go back. A motor bus was sent out very promptly so we could continue our journey.

 

[Beebman]

Reading trolleybuses also had batteries. I was on one once when it had to turn short along Kings Road as the lines further on had been damaged by a high vehicle. The bus reversed into a side street and then crossed to the other sideof the roadusing its battery so it could reattach the poles and go back. A motor bus was sent out very promptly so we could continue our journey.

The webpage for preserved Reading 113 notes that it has battery traction in addition to its EE 80hp motor:

https://www.britishtrolley.org.uk/reading-113