Trolleybuses in ValparaÃso
The trolleybus Valparaiso, Spanish Trolebus de Valparaíso, is now the only trolleybus operation in Chile. It is operated TCSA, abbreviated by the private limited company Trolebuses de Chile SA. The only electrified line is 4.5 km long, opens up the city of Valparaíso as diameter line in east-west direction and is served by the line 802 in the dense clock. It is also as line 8 into the local omnibus System Plan de Transporte Metropolitano de Valparaíso ( TMV) integrated. A special feature of the trolleybus Valparaiso was rated on 3 July 2003 to be of particular cultural asset by the Chilean state, Spanish monument called nacional. Second track-guided transport system of the city is the Metro Valparaíso.
History
The operation went in Valparaíso on 31 December 1952 as the second Obusnetz the country in operation in the capital Santiago de Chile wrong already since 1947 O buses. In the Valparaíso trolleybus solved it from the tram, which was opened in 1863 as a horse track and electrified in 1903. Continue to be used, however, was the 1903 also arisen Depot on Avenida Independencia. First, the trolleybuses wrong only between Barón Plaza and Plaza Victoria ( Avenida Pedro Montt through ), until January 7, 1953, the total distance to Plaza Aduana in operation. In February that year, eventually followed by the opening of the second route through the Avenida Colón.
Traditionally, the two Chilean trolleybus networks were run by the same company. This state company Empresa Nacional renamed initially de Transportes SA colectivo ( ENT ), then from 1953 as Empresa de Transportes colectivo del Estado ( ETCE ). The late 1970s sank the interest of the Chilean government in the continued operation of the two trolleybus networks, the result was the operational setting in Santiago de Chile on 18 June 1978 in Valparaíso on 30 November 1981.
However, it succeeded in some business people to trolleybus operation in Valparaíso already on April 26, 1982 to resume. To this end, they established the private limited liability company Empresa de Transportes colectivo Eléctricos LTDA., Also abbreviated ETCE. Even the trolleybus in Santiago de Chile in 1991 was again in operation as early as 1994 but was definitely discontinued. Since then, the trolleybus transport in Chile is only found in Valparaíso.
In 2000, the ETCE had to give up their previous Trolleybusdepot on Avenida Independencia. As a replacement henceforth served a provisional premises on Avenida España, which was not connected to the catenary system. To avoid cumbersome towing trips, presented to the in use trolleybuses at night along the route from. 2006 also had this area due to a sale of land to be abandoned again. After a brief stint on a site in the small town ten kilometers away Placilla - and thus even further off the beaten for the overall management infrastructure - trolley buses are housed since 2008 in their traditional custodian of the tram time.
On 10 May 2007, the trolleybus operating company declared bankrupt because of economic problems and announced the suspension of operations for the 15 June 2007. In particular, this had to prevail against subsidized by the city government competition in the form of diesel-powered midi buses of various private entrepreneurs. Their line structure was reorganized in January 2007, they are characterized by a lower fare, a larger network and higher speeds, although they offer less comfort. However, previously there were financial difficulties, the trolleybus operation had to be, for example, in 2002 set due to non-payment of electricity bills for three weeks.
After the payment of subsidies by the government shortly before the expiry of the period of existence of the trolleybus is secured for the moment, however, until 2013. In this context, transformed the company, also in 2007, of a limited liability company into a corporation. At the same time it changed its name from ETCE in TCSA. However, due to the continuing difficult financial situation, the former second trolleybus line had to be adjusted with the number 801 on 1 September 2007. It was mostly identical to the existing route, only in direction of travel Plaza Aduana not reversed via Avenida Colón but a direct route through the Avenida Pedro Montt.
Today the Trolleybusgesellschaft employs a total of 60 employees. The substation is located on Calle Aldunate, near the central Plaza Victoria. It comes from Westinghouse Electric and works on the principle Ignitron.
From the TCSA issued tickets for the 8
The trolleybus is integrated into the Midi bus
Logo of the company
Rolling stock
Delivered to Valparaíso
For 1952, the opening operation of the Pullman Palace Car ENT Company from the United States purchased 30 solo type cars Pullman Standard TC- 48th They were the last produced trolleybuses this manufacturer ever received in Valparaíso and the car numbers 701 to 730 The electrical equipment of this series comes from General Electric ( GE). Of them are still the five cars 709, 714, 715, 721 and 723 in operation, they have been declared a National Monument in 2003.
Copied from Santiago de Chile
In the 1970s, more and more cars from Santiago de Chile were transferred to Valparaiso, where they were increasingly redundant as a result of route settings. How many copies were made a total of Valparaíso, over the years, is not known. Here it was in the second half of the 1940s produced a comprehensive car together 100 copies series type 43 -CX. They are also from the Pullman Palace Car Company, however, vary in appearance slightly from the procured for Valparaíso vehicles. Your electrical system is also from General Electric. Eleven cars of this series (801, 802, 804, 806, 818, 821, 822, 824, 832, 859 and 888) were 1986 new karossiert, recognizable by the different front and side windows. Of these old-timers are still eight pieces in use, including the seven modernized carriage 116, 801, 802, 806, 821, 832 and 888 and the non - updated cars, 814 The 800 cars are the oldest schedule used trolleybuses in the world, also they are under monument protection.
1991 procured the ETCE to celebrate the upcoming reopening of the capital operation eight brand-new solo trolleybuses from the People's Republic of China. The cars of the type Shenfeng SYD- 60C came from a co-production of Norinco and the Shenyang Bus Manufacturing Factory and were classified in the stock under the registration numbers 601-608. Four of them came later to Valparaíso, of which there are the cars 603 and 607 in use. 604 car, however, was scrapped, car 601 is not operational - but to be worked up.
Taken over from Switzerland
In the years 1991 and 1992, the company finally acquired a total of 31 cars with Swiss trolley buses from the 1950s and 1960s, including for the first time articulated cars. The cars of different makes are from the trolley Geneva, from Schaffhausen trolley bus, trolley bus from St. Gallen and Zurich from the trolley and Chile reached as follows:
Part of the Swiss car was determined for the 1991 Re-opened line in the capital and never came to the treated here operation. Today in Valparaíso following five vehicles in operation:
- Geneva: 99 (formerly 607) and 617
- From Zurich: 105 and 503 (formerly 129)
- From Schaffhausen: 203
Carriage 105 is built in 1959 with the world's oldest Gelenktrolleybus in regular passenger service. As a source of spare parts are still available, the carriage 102 from Schaffhausen, 504 from Zurich ( there number 132) and 612 from Geneva.
Operation
Overall, the TCSA has 20 operable trolleybuses, including four articulated cars. In addition, the former St. Gallen car 142 since 17 November 2008 serves as a waiting room and souvenir sales outlet at the terminus Plaza Barón. For the maintenance of the overhead line is also a autotowers available. Scheduled on weekdays - depending on the availability of vehicles - between twelve and fifteen courses in simultaneous operation. The operating hours are Monday to Friday from 7:00 bis 20:30 clock and Saturday between 8:00 and bis 20:30 clock, Sundays rest of the operation.