Trolmérida
Encyclopedia
The Mérida trolleybus system is an electrified bus rapid transit
system that serves Mérida
, Venezuela
, and surrounding communities. The current line, operated by dual-mode
trolleybus
es, is considered to be "Line 1" of a planned three-route "Mass Transport System" (Sistema de Transporte Masivo), of which Line 2 is also to be trolleybus and Line 3 is to be an aerial cableway. Line 3 was originally planned as a funicular
, but was changed to a cableway in 2005. Construction of line 3, the cableway (now named Trolcable), was about 50 percent complete as of May 2011. Construction has yet to begin on Line 2. The operator of the system was originally named Trolmérida, but in September 2009 its name was changed to Tromerca, for Trolebús Mérida, C.A.
The first 10.2-km section, serving 15 stations, was inaugurated on June 18, 2007. The route connects Ejido with Mérida. Service currently ends at Pie del Llano station, south of Mérida city center. Construction continues, somewhat sporadically, on the section of the line extending northeastwards from there, into the city center.
The following stations are in full operation:
The following stations of Line 1 are under construction or planned:
trolleybuses supplied in 2003 by a partnership of Hispano Carrocera
and Mercedes-Benz
of Spain, with the vehicles' electrical propulsion equipment provided by Bombardier
. Ordered in December 1998, all 45 were delivered in 2003, but construction of the line had fallen behind schedule by then, so the vehicles were stored for an extended period, until the first section of the route was completed.
Like other BRT
systems, the vehicles operate in their own exclusive lanes over the route's entire length, to avoid delays from traffic congestion and reduce travel times. Boarding takes place at fully enclosed, high-platform stations, permitting quick boarding and alighting of passengers. Similar to many modern light rail
and metro
systems, the platforms are vertically aligned with the vehicles' floors, and the vehicles have no steps at their doorways. The only previous trolleybus system to use such a system of level boarding at high platforms is El Trole
in Quito
, Ecuador
, and the Mérida system was said to be modeled on the Quito system, which has been very successful. Fare collection will take place within the stations, before boarding, so that loading can take place via all three vehicle doorways simultaneously. However, as the line is still in its first phase, and has not yet reached the city center, the start of fare collection has been delayed, and all rides are free at present.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system that serves Mérida
Mérida, Mérida
Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, Venezuela, is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the principal cities of the Venezuelan Andes...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and surrounding communities. The current line, operated by dual-mode
Dual-mode bus
A dual-mode bus is a bus that can run independently on power from two different sources, typically electricity from overhead lines or batteries, alternated with conventional fossil fuel ....
trolleybus
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...
es, is considered to be "Line 1" of a planned three-route "Mass Transport System" (Sistema de Transporte Masivo), of which Line 2 is also to be trolleybus and Line 3 is to be an aerial cableway. Line 3 was originally planned as a funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
, but was changed to a cableway in 2005. Construction of line 3, the cableway (now named Trolcable), was about 50 percent complete as of May 2011. Construction has yet to begin on Line 2. The operator of the system was originally named Trolmérida, but in September 2009 its name was changed to Tromerca, for Trolebús Mérida, C.A.
The route
Only a little more than half of Line 1 has opened, thus far. If completed as planned, the full Line 1 will be 18.2 km in length and have 34 stations.The first 10.2-km section, serving 15 stations, was inaugurated on June 18, 2007. The route connects Ejido with Mérida. Service currently ends at Pie del Llano station, south of Mérida city center. Construction continues, somewhat sporadically, on the section of the line extending northeastwards from there, into the city center.
The following stations are in full operation:
- Terminal Ejido
- Pozo Hondo
- Centenario
- Montalbán
- Las Cruces
- Pan de Azúcar
- La Parroquia (proposed Line 2 transfer point)
- La Mara
- Alto Chama
- Carrizal
- Museo de Ciencias
- Las Tapias
- El Acuario
- San Antonio
- Pie del Llano.
The following stations of Line 1 are under construction or planned:
- Santa Juana
- Soto Rosa
- María Mazzarello
- Campo de Oro
- Juan XXIII
- Luis Ghersy
- Medicina, facultad de
- Liceo Libertador
- Simón Bolívar (transfer stop to future Line 2)
- Obispo Lora (transfer stop to future Line 2)
- Las Américas
- Sor Juana Inés
- Plaza de Toros
- Albarregas
- Santa Ana
- Domingo Salazar
- Fundacite
- Los Chorros
- Núcleo La Hechicera
Operation
The route is served by a fleet of 45 articulatedArticulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
trolleybuses supplied in 2003 by a partnership of Hispano Carrocera
Hispano Carrocera
Tata Hispano Motors Carrocera , based in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, is one of the largest manufacturers of bus and coach cabins in Europe. It is a fully owned subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. Tata Motors acquired control of the company in 2005, after purchasing a 21% stake in the company...
and Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
of Spain, with the vehicles' electrical propulsion equipment provided by Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
. Ordered in December 1998, all 45 were delivered in 2003, but construction of the line had fallen behind schedule by then, so the vehicles were stored for an extended period, until the first section of the route was completed.
Like other BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
systems, the vehicles operate in their own exclusive lanes over the route's entire length, to avoid delays from traffic congestion and reduce travel times. Boarding takes place at fully enclosed, high-platform stations, permitting quick boarding and alighting of passengers. Similar to many modern light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
and metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
systems, the platforms are vertically aligned with the vehicles' floors, and the vehicles have no steps at their doorways. The only previous trolleybus system to use such a system of level boarding at high platforms is El Trole
El Trole
The Quito trolleybus system is a bus rapid transit line located in Quito, Ecuador, which opened in 1995 and by 2002 was carrying about 220,000 passengers per day. It is managed by an agency of the municipality known as Empresa Metropolitana de Servicios y Administración del Transporte and is...
in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and the Mérida system was said to be modeled on the Quito system, which has been very successful. Fare collection will take place within the stations, before boarding, so that loading can take place via all three vehicle doorways simultaneously. However, as the line is still in its first phase, and has not yet reached the city center, the start of fare collection has been delayed, and all rides are free at present.