Trolleybuses in Mérida
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The Mérida trolleybus system was an electrified bus rapid transit system that served Mérida, Venezuela, and surrounding communities from 2007 to 2016. Its only line, which was operated by dual-mode trolleybuses, was considered to be "Line 1" of a planned three-route "Mass Transport System" (Sistema de Transporte Masivo), of which Line 2 was also to be trolleybus and Line 3 an aerial cableway. Line 3 was originally planned as a funicular, but was changed to a cableway in 2005.[1] Construction of line 3, the cableway (now named Trolcable), was about 50 percent complete as of May 2011,[2] and the cableway opened for service on 14 December 2012.[3] Construction of Line 2 never started. The operator of the system was originally named Trolmérida, but in August 2009 its name was changed to Tromerca, for Trolebús Mérida, C.A.[1][4]
Mérida trolleybus system | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Locale | Mérida, Venezuela |
Transit type | Trolleybus |
Number of stations | 22 |
Operation | |
Began operation | 18 June 2007 |
Ended operation | c. August 2016 (as trolleybus) |
Operator(s) | Tromerca (Trolebús Mérida, CA) |
Technical | |
System length | 15.2 km |
The initial 10.4-km route opened in June 2007, and a 2.7-km extension to Mercado Periférico (just southwest of the city centre) opened in September 2012. In August 2015, a 2.1-km extension to Domingo Peña, at the upper terminus of the Line 3 aerial cableway, opened, but with the dual-mode buses running as diesel buses on that section while the overhead wiring awaited installation and, subsequently, certification for use. This brought the length of the trolleybus line to 15.2 km, but with 2.1 km of its length being operated in diesel mode rather than trolleybus mode.
Due to a combination of factors, including electricity rationing and thefts of overhead wiring during periods of civil unrest, diesel buses began to be used on the trolleybus line around June 2015 and by October 2015 they were providing about half of the service.[5] Trolleybus operation became sporadic in 2016. By August, it had ceased entirely, and was not expected to resume.[6]