Wellington's trolley buses gathering dust 18 months after they were expected to be running again

Wednesday, 24 April 2019

Plans to refit Wellington's retired trolley buses with Wrightspeed hybrid motors started back in 2016, but were scrapped last year.

Eighteen months after Wellington's trolley buses were taken off the road to be replaced with new electric battery technology, all but one of them are gathering dust.

The fully-electric trolley buses were removed from service in October 2017, after the contract for the vehicles ended and the $50 million cost of upgrading the overhead wire network was deemed too expensive by Greater Wellington Regional Council.

The council had hoped the trolleys, which are owned by NZ Bus, would be refitted with hybrid Wrightspeed motors and gradually put back into service from the following month.

Wellington's retired trolley buses are still sitting in a Kilbrinie yard, 18 months after they were taken down. (File photo)

But after the experiment failed, the company decided to revert to existing battery bus technology, partnering with China-based Times Electric Group (TEG).

**READ MORE:

Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter said fitting the buses with electric batteries was not the only option being considered. (File photo)

* NZ Bus ditches Wrightspeed plans

* Electric future still uncertain

The trolley buses were removed in October 2017, when the contract for the vehicles ended. (File photo)

* Wrightspeed alternatives considered

* Trolley buses take last ride**

NZ Bus developed a prototype for a hybrid Wrightspeed motor, but the experimental technology was later scrapped. (File photo)

Almost a year on from that development, just one of the buses has been successfully converted and put back into service.

It has clocked up 30,000 kilometres on the Airport Flyer route, which is privately run by NZ Bus.

Regional councillor Daran Ponter confirmed about 50 of the trolley buses were sitting at the 'bus barns' in Kilbirnie, and there was still uncertainty about whether or not they would ever be converted.

Other options being discussed to replace the 50 vehicles included NZ Bus ordering a new electric fleet, or a new diesel fleet.

Diesel buses, including some sent down from Auckland, have been operating in place of the trolleys in the meantime.

'The issue that we are still negotiating is the price [of the different options],' Ponter said.

'It really comes down to that. The negotiation has gone on much longer than we had anticipated. We would have hoped by now we would have the trolley buses converted.'

Ordering a new set of buses would cost tens of millions of dollars, a factor complicated by the pending sale of NZ Bus – owned by Infratil – to Australian private equity firm Next Capital.

NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames could not be reached for comment.

A Metlink spokesperson said projected costs could not be discussed, but a deal was close to being reached.

'Our initial view was a conversion of the trolleys [would be the best option], but the council will explore the very best option for ratepayers.'

Of the 57 trolley buses decommissioned, 40 were still fit for purpose but several others had been retired because of mechanical problems.

Meanwhile, Ponter said the regional council is also in talks with fellow Wellington operator Tranzurban about bringing forward the introduction of its next electric double-decker fleet, and increasing the number of buses it adds.

The company plans to introduce another 10 double-deckers in Wellington sometime next year, but that number could increase and they could be introduced sooner than scheduled, he said.