SWITZERLAND Bus manufacturer Hess recently passed a new milestone, when it completed the 250th SwissTrolley bus. The bus was delivered to the city of Winterthur, and is currently in its third iteration. Hess claims it is the ideal solution to increasing demands in conurbations, combining the benefits of flexible public road transport with electric power and low emissions.
The new SwissTrolley model features 43 seats and ample standing room, and is a seat row longer than older models, measuring 18.7m in length. Winterthur has ordered a total of 21 vehicles, and similarly-designed units are currently operating in Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, Lausanne, Biel, St. Gallen, Neuchatel and Fribourg and further afield in Solingen and Arnhem.
New vehicles will be deployed in Schaffhausen this year and further vehicles of the type have been ordered for 2012 and 2013 by Limoges and Zurich.
