Trolleybus Biel / Bienne

Trolleybus Biel / Bienne
Network map trolleybus Biel / Bienne
Route length:	16.3 km
Power system :	600 volts =
Operator:	Verkehrsbetriebe Biel (VB)
Opening:	October 19, 1940
Lines:	2

The trolleybus Biel / Bienne is the trolleybus system of the Swiss city Biel / Bienne , part of the network is in the area of the neighboring city Nidau . In addition to various bus lines, the Biel Transport Authority (VB) operates two electric routes, which together are 16.3 kilometers long. Both are diameter lines and run every 7.5 minutes during rush hour .

history

The Biel / Bienne trolleybus gradually replaced the Biel tram between 1940 and 1948 . The individual trolleybus route sections went into operation as follows:

October 19, 1940	Biel– Mett train station (3.4 km)	Line 3	Tram replacement
October 16, 1948	Biel – Nidau station, station	Line 2	Tram replacement
November 1948	Central square - Bözingen	line 1	Tram replacement
August 25, 1955	Biel – Madretsch train station	Line 3	New development
May 22, 1966	Biel – Vorhölzli train station (4.1 km)	Line 4	New development

Line 3 was closed again on May 31, 1992, line 2 was closed in 1997 as a result of a further restructuring of the network.

Lines

line 1	Stadiums - Central Square - Biel Railway Station - Orpundplatz - Vorhölzli
Line 4	Löhre - Orpundplatz - Zentralplatz - Biel station - Nidau, station

vehicles

The following vehicles have so far been procured for the Biel / Bienne trolleybus; the 20 vehicles in stock today are highlighted in gray. 16 of these are required at the same time at 7.5-minute intervals, twelve courses are sufficient for ten-minute intervals.

Numbers	piece	Manufacturer	Electrics	Type	Years of construction	Art	low-floor
21-45	25th	Berna / Hess	SAAS		1940-1959	Solo car	No
01-10	10	FBW / R + J	SAAS	Tr51	1966	Solo car	No
11-17	07th	FBW / R + J	SAAS	91 T	1980	Solo car	No
61-66	06th	Volvo / R + J	BBC Sécheron	B10M-55	1985	Articulated trolley	No
67-72	06th	Volvo / R + J	BBC Sécheron	B10M-55	1988-1989	Articulated trolley	No
80	01	NAW / Hess	FIG	BGT-N Swistrolley 1	1991	Articulated trolley	Yes
81-90	10	NAW / Hess	Box	BGT-N2 Swistrolley 2	1997	Articulated trolley	Yes
51-60	10	Hess	Box	BGT-N2C Swistrolley 3	2008	Articulated trolley	Yes

The Swisstrolley prototype was only adopted in 1996 as a replacement for the 61, which burned out in January of the same year. Until then, it served the manufacturer as a demonstration car. The following trolleybuses were handed over to Romania after they were scrapped , some of which are still in use today:

1998/98 to Sibiu :

685 VB 2

686 VB 5

687 VB 6

688 VB 10

689 VB 12

690 VB 13

691 VB 14

692 VB 17

693 VB 15

694 VB 3

695 VB 4

696 VB 7

697 VB 8

698 VB 1

699 VB 16

to Brașov : in 2008 the eleven cars 62–72, there the same numbers
to Mediaş : 2008 the car 80. In Mediaş number 663, later 758. This car was still in use in July 2015.

In addition, twelve trailers with the road numbers 61 to 72 were previously available; by 1989 they were replaced by the first two articulated car series with the same numbers. Articulated trolleys 61–66 were also a joint order with trolleys 62–66 of the Bern trolleybus . Likewise the trolleys 81–90, which correspond to the Bern trolleys 1–8.

Web links

Commons : Trolleybuses in Biel / Bienne - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Official website of the Biel transport company
Information on the Biel / Bienne trolleybus at trolleymotion.ch
Gallery on railfaneurope.net

polier.ch:

Individual evidence

↑ History of the Biel / Bienne trolleybus on trolleymotion.com

[1] History of the Biel / Bienne trolleybus on trolleymotion.com