Trolleybuses in Wellington
Encyclopedia
Trolleybuses in Wellington form part of the Wellington public transport system
, with the current system having operated since 1949. Wellington's trolleybus system is the only one still operating in Oceania
, and one of the few in the English-speaking world, and the world's only right-hand-drive trolleybus network.
. A trolleybus was chosen over an extension to the Wellington tramway system
because a large watermain on the route precluded tram track construction. The service was replaced with diesel buses.
A second and more extensive trolleybus system was approved in 1945, when it was decided to gradually replace the city's trams with trolleybuses. Trolleybuses were preferred over trams for being more manoeuverable and "more modern", and were preferred over diesel or petrol buses due to better traction on steep slopes.
At its maximum extent the trolleybus network stretched for around 50 kilometres — in addition to current services, trolleybuses went to Oriental Bay
, Northland
and Wadestown, and routes in the central city were more extensive. The trolleybus fleet peaked at 119 vehicles, including Crossley
Empire, British United Traction RETB1 (in various forms) and Volvo B10M
and B58
models.
The trolleybus system has been threatened with closure over the years, mainly on grounds of cost. The growing emphasis on environmentally-friendly transport has however prompted campaigns to keep the trolleybuses, and in 2007 it was announced that a new generation of trolleybuses would be funded. The 60 new trolleybuses were built by DesignLine, in Ashburton, using some components from the previous fleet. They have a greater passenger capacity than previous trolleybuses, are low-floor and incorporate other improvements — they are expected to de-wire less frequently, and the 57 three-axle models are able to operate for short distances off-wire from batteries. Delivery of the trolleybuses began in late 2007 and finished in 2009.
, part of Infratil
's NZ Bus, on behalf of Metlink, the brand name of Greater Wellington Regional Council's public transport network. There are 60 trolleybuses, the current fleet having been delivered in the last few years.
Trolleybuses serve the southern, western, and eastern parts of Wellington City
, using overhead wires owned by Wellington Cable Car Ltd, a subsidiary of Wellington City Council.
2 Wellington Railway Station-Miramar
3 Karori Park-Lyall Bay
5 Wellington Railway Station-Hataitai
6 Wellington Railway Station-Lyall Bay
7 Wellington Railway Station-Kingston
9 Wellington Railway Station-Aro St
10 Wellington Railway Station-Newtown Park Zoo
11 Wellington Railway Station-Seatoun
Routes operate all day every day, except 5 and 6 (Monday-Friday peak hours only), 9 and 10 (Monday-Friday only, not evenings). There are insufficient trolleybuses to operate all journeys on these routes, and diesel buses operate on a daily basis. In addition, some journeys on route 6 run beyond the wires to Molesworth St, and are operated by diesel buses; evening services are usually operated by diesel buses; and trolleybuses do not run at the weekend.
(terminus of all routes except the 3) via Lambton Quay and Willis St (served by all routes) to Courtenay Place
(served by routes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6).
To the west, route 3 travels to Karori Park
via Glenmore Street and the Karori Tunnel, connecting into the Golden Mile south of the Railway Station.
To the south-west, routes 7 and 9 run along Willis St (northbound), Victoria St (southbound) before splitting — the 9 runs west up the Aro Valley
, the 7 climbs the hill southwards to Brooklyn
, Mornington
and Kingston.
To the south, two routes run to Newtown
(10 and 11 via Taranaki St, 1 and 3 via the Basin Reserve), with the 1 continuing south to Island Bay
, the 10 terminating at Wellington Zoo
, and the 3 and 11 turning east to Kilbirnie
, where they meet routes 2 and 6 via the bus tunnel and Hataitai
(where route 5 has a large terminal loop). From Kilbirnie routes 3 and 6 run south to Lyall Bay
, the 2 and 11 east to Hobart St: the 11 continues east to Seatoun
and the 2 heads north to Miramar
.
Public transport in Wellington
Public transport in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is well developed compared to other parts of the country. The system covers the Greater Wellington region, including Wellington city, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa.-Administration:Public transport in...
, with the current system having operated since 1949. Wellington's trolleybus system is the only one still operating in Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, and one of the few in the English-speaking world, and the world's only right-hand-drive trolleybus network.
History
The first trolleybus route in Wellington operated between 1924 and 1932. It used a single AEC 602, and ran from Thorndon along Hutt Road to KaiwharawharaKaiwharawhara
Kaiwharawhara, formerly known as Kaiwarra, is an urban seaside suburb of Wellington in New Zealand's North Island. It is located north of the centre of the city on the western shore of Wellington Harbour, where the Kaiwharawhara Stream reaches the sea from its headwaters in Karori. It is a...
. A trolleybus was chosen over an extension to the Wellington tramway system
Wellington tramway system
The Wellington tramway system operated in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The tramways were originally owned by a private company, but were purchased by the city and formed a major part of the city's transport system.-Trams:...
because a large watermain on the route precluded tram track construction. The service was replaced with diesel buses.
At its maximum extent the trolleybus network stretched for around 50 kilometres — in addition to current services, trolleybuses went to Oriental Bay
Oriental Bay
Oriental Bay is a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Located close to the CBD on Wellington Harbour, it has the closest beach to the centre of the city and is thus a popular spot both for living and for visiting....
, Northland
Northland, Wellington
Northland, a small suburb in western Wellington, New Zealand. The suburb is served by two state primary schools, Northland School and Cardinal McKeefry Catholic Primary School....
and Wadestown, and routes in the central city were more extensive. The trolleybus fleet peaked at 119 vehicles, including Crossley
Crossley Motors
Crossley Motors was a British motor vehicle manufacturer based in Manchester, England. They produced approximately 19,000 high quality cars from 1904 until 1938, 5,500 buses from 1926 until 1958 and 21,000 goods and military vehicles from 1914 to 1945.Crossley Brothers, originally...
Empire, British United Traction RETB1 (in various forms) and Volvo B10M
Volvo B10M
The Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
and B58
Volvo B58
The Volvo B58 is a mid-engined bus chassis built by Volvo of Sweden from 1966 until early 1982. It was the forerunner to the highly successful B10M....
models.
The trolleybus system has been threatened with closure over the years, mainly on grounds of cost. The growing emphasis on environmentally-friendly transport has however prompted campaigns to keep the trolleybuses, and in 2007 it was announced that a new generation of trolleybuses would be funded. The 60 new trolleybuses were built by DesignLine, in Ashburton, using some components from the previous fleet. They have a greater passenger capacity than previous trolleybuses, are low-floor and incorporate other improvements — they are expected to de-wire less frequently, and the 57 three-axle models are able to operate for short distances off-wire from batteries. Delivery of the trolleybuses began in late 2007 and finished in 2009.
Operations
Trolleybuses are an integral part of the Wellington bus service. They are operated by GOWellingtonGOWellington
GO Wellington is the brand name of the NZ Bus Wellington, New Zealand subsidiary Wellington City Transport Ltd, branded Stagecoach Wellington by its previous owner, the Stagecoach Group. The name was announced in November 2006 with a new livery, by NZ Bus owner Infratil...
, part of Infratil
Infratil
Infratil Limited is a New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company. It owns several airports, electricity generators and retailers, and a public transport business, with operations in New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Infratil was founded by Lloyd Morrison, a Wellington-based merchant...
's NZ Bus, on behalf of Metlink, the brand name of Greater Wellington Regional Council's public transport network. There are 60 trolleybuses, the current fleet having been delivered in the last few years.
Trolleybuses serve the southern, western, and eastern parts of Wellington City
Wellington City
Wellington City Council is a territorial authority in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Wellington city extends as far north as Linden, and includes the rural areas of Makara and Ohariu. It is New Zealand's third-largest city, behind Auckland and Christchurch.Wellington attained city status in...
, using overhead wires owned by Wellington Cable Car Ltd, a subsidiary of Wellington City Council.
Routes
1 Wellington Railway Station-Island Bay2 Wellington Railway Station-Miramar
3 Karori Park-Lyall Bay
5 Wellington Railway Station-Hataitai
6 Wellington Railway Station-Lyall Bay
7 Wellington Railway Station-Kingston
9 Wellington Railway Station-Aro St
10 Wellington Railway Station-Newtown Park Zoo
11 Wellington Railway Station-Seatoun
Routes operate all day every day, except 5 and 6 (Monday-Friday peak hours only), 9 and 10 (Monday-Friday only, not evenings). There are insufficient trolleybuses to operate all journeys on these routes, and diesel buses operate on a daily basis. In addition, some journeys on route 6 run beyond the wires to Molesworth St, and are operated by diesel buses; evening services are usually operated by diesel buses; and trolleybuses do not run at the weekend.
Route description
The main city-centre trolleybus corridor is along the Golden Mile from Wellington Railway StationWellington Railway Station
Wellington Railway Station is the southern terminus of New Zealand's North Island Main Trunk railway, Wairarapa Line and Johnsonville Line. In terms of number of services and in passenger numbers, it is New Zealand's busiest railway station.-Development:...
(terminus of all routes except the 3) via Lambton Quay and Willis St (served by all routes) to Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place
There are numerous city squares and streets around the world named Courtenay Place. Among them are the following:-In New Zealand:*Courtenay Place, Rotorua in Rotorua*Courtenay Place, Wellington, one of the main streets in Wellington-In the United Kingdom:...
(served by routes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6).
To the west, route 3 travels to Karori Park
Karori
Karori is a suburb located at the western edge of the urban area of Wellington, New Zealand, some 4 km from the city centre.Karori is significantly larger than most other Wellington suburbs, having a population of over 14,000 at the time of the 2006 census.-History:Before the arrival of...
via Glenmore Street and the Karori Tunnel, connecting into the Golden Mile south of the Railway Station.
To the south-west, routes 7 and 9 run along Willis St (northbound), Victoria St (southbound) before splitting — the 9 runs west up the Aro Valley
Aro Valley
- Geography :The Aro Valley runs between the hills of Brooklyn to the south and of Kelburn to the north. By some reckonings it includes the side-valley of Mitchelltown. It takes its name from the Aro stream which flowed down Epuni street, and which since 1926 has been confined to a drain...
, the 7 climbs the hill southwards to Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New Zealand
Brooklyn, a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Brooklyn is a blend of circa 1900 weatherboard villa / bungalow houses around the central part of Brooklyn, blending more recent subdivisions built in the 1970's and 1990's. The shops / bars / cinema / food outlets have created a...
, Mornington
Mornington, Wellington
Mornington is a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, on the southern hills behind Brooklyn. It is named after the Duke of Wellington's father, the Earl of Mornington. The original Mornington is in County Meath, and was the Irish seat of the Duke's father. It was named in 1878 from the time when J.F.E...
and Kingston.
To the south, two routes run to Newtown
Newtown, New Zealand
The suburb of Newtown lies in the southern part of Wellington in New Zealand. The population at the last census was recorded as 8,409.The suburb lies east of Vogeltown, between Mount Cook and Berhampore...
(10 and 11 via Taranaki St, 1 and 3 via the Basin Reserve), with the 1 continuing south to Island Bay
Island Bay, Wellington
Island Bay is a suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated 5 km south of the city centre.Island Bay lies on the bay which shares its name, one of numerous small bays west of Lyall Bay...
, the 10 terminating at Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo is nestled in the green belt of Wellington, New Zealand. Now over 100 years old, it was the country’s first Zoo and has dedicated to over 100 different species of fauna from across the globe...
, and the 3 and 11 turning east to Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie, New Zealand
Kilbirnie , a suburb of Wellington in New Zealand, lies 3 kilometers to the south-east of the city centre. Travellers can reach Kilbirnie from the Wellington central business district either via the Mount Victoria Tunnel and Hataitai; over Mount Victoria; or around the coast...
, where they meet routes 2 and 6 via the bus tunnel and Hataitai
Hataitai
Hataitai is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, 3.5 kilometres southeast of the city centre. The suburb extends over the southeastern flank of Mount Victoria and down a valley between the Town Belt and a ridge along the shoreline of Evans Bay...
(where route 5 has a large terminal loop). From Kilbirnie routes 3 and 6 run south to Lyall Bay
Lyall Bay
Lyall Bay is a bay and a suburb on the south side of the Rongotai isthmus in Wellington, New Zealand.The bay is a popular surf beach, featuring a breakwater at the eastern end. It has also been the site of surf lifesaving championships, and is home to two surf lifesaving clubs. Lyall Bay is a very...
, the 2 and 11 east to Hobart St: the 11 continues east to Seatoun
Seatoun
Seatoun is an eastern suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is on the east coast of the Miramar Peninsula, close to the entrance to Wellington Harbour , some seven kilometres southeast of the CBD...
and the 2 heads north to Miramar
Miramar, New Zealand
Miramar is a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, south-east of the city centre. It is on the Miramar Peninsula, directly east of the isthmus of Rongotai, the site of Wellington International Airport.-History:...
.
See also
- Transport in New ZealandTransport in New ZealandTransport in New Zealand, with its mountainous topography and a relatively small population mostly located near its long coastline, has always faced many challenges. Before Europeans arrived, Māori either walked or used watercraft on rivers or along the coasts...
- List of trolleybus systems
External links
- GOWellington
- Metlink
- The Wellington Trolleybus Page
- Trolleybuses of New Zealand
- Te Ara - photo of Wellington's first trolleybus.
- GO Wellington Trolley Buses - images of DesignLine trolleybuses taken in 2010.