What are trolleybuses and why does London need them?

London needs widespread zero polluting street transport that can be provided at an economic cost.

What is the attraction of trolleybuses to Transport for London [initial outlay, running costs]?

Capital costs much lower than light rail. Lifetime costs cheaper than diesel buses [even at current fuel prices] for frequent routes.

What is the attraction to the public?

Modern trolleybuses are reliable, clean, quiet and fast with low floors and level boarding.

What are the limitations of the trolleybus? Why haven’t they been developed by London yet?

The only real limitation on modern trolleybuses with auxiliary power is that one cannot easily overtake a trolleybus in front. This should not be necessary if services are properly controlled so that they run reliably. London is lagging behind other major cities such as Athens, Rome etc. Some TfL officials seem to have a blind spot in this regard.

At what stage are you at in terms of implementing these buses onto London’s Streets?

Detailed costed schemes for East London Transit, Greenwich Waterfront Transit and West London Transit. Proposal for network of frequent services right across London.

These vehicles have been and are been used many cities around the world including Britain before, why do you think that London has not embraced them yet?

Current obsession with a small number of very expensive light rail schemes using all available resources and leaving everywhere else in London with just a modest improvement to their present diesel buses.

How do you think London will look in 10 or 20 years time?

Correct decisions – a network of trolleybuses giving quiet efficient public transport, improving air quality and saving lives. Wrong decisions – noisy traffic congestion, large private car usage, poor air quality, sickness and death for large numbers of Londoners. As London’s perimeters grow ever larger, what role can trolleybuses will have in dealing with the transport needs of the capital?

Where costs of other forms of public transport cannot be economically justified, trolleybuses can provide the step-change in quality needed to get people to use public transport rather than cars. They can be installed economically and rapidly.

Do you think that they will have this role? Are Londoners ready to accept the trolleybus? What might be their reservations?

There has been almost no negative comment from the general public in recent public consultation exercises on Transit schemes in London. In fact many ordinary Londoners have themselves suggested trolleybuses as a much preferable alternative to expensive and disruptive street tramways - don’t forget many Londoners well remember the extensive trolleybus network London used to have, and how good it was. In fact in East London those consulted by TfL voted for trolleybuses but were then told they couldn’t have them,

Visual intrusion of overhead wires is often mentioned by detractors [who usually have another agenda] but modern technology means this can be much less obtrusive than previously. In most areas it should not be a problem and good design can overcome most difficulties. In very sensitive areas, various forms of auxiliary power can be used to give off-wire capability. For trolleybuses to play their proper role in improving London needs commitment from TfL and from the London boroughs. It is time for Londoners to get these people to listen!