Britain to see the Return of Trolleybuses After 40 Years

New reports now show that, after nearly 40 years, new plans could be made to bring back trolleybuses to Britain. Metro and Leeds City Council have now submitted a proposal to the Department of Transport for a 14 mile network. It is said that these plans will cost nearly £280 million. Despite the cost, the city could see a new generation of vehicles being introduced as soon as 2015.

The very first trolleybus is believed to have gotten its start in Berlin in 1882. The buses were finally seen in Britain in 1909 when a trial was held in Hendon. A trolleybus was first entered into public service in Leeds and Bradford some two years later.

During much of the 20^th century the trolleybuses were a very common feature all around Britain. However, by the 1960s many of the trolleybuses had already disappeared just as quickly as they came. The last trolleybus was seen in Bradford in March of 1972. The trolleybuses were phased out by conventional buses, which seemed to be more flexible.

However, trolleybuses could be making a comeback due to the fact that, like trams, they are powered by overhead electric cables. However, unlike trams, trolleybuses used the road just like other vehicles.

According to the Leeds City Council’s plans, a new fleet of single-decker trolleybuses would be brought back into business. Each bus would be able to carry about 160 passengers a piece. They would, of course, be linked between places like parks, sites in the center of the city, hospitals, and universities. Also, wherever possible, the trolleybuses would have their own dedicated lanes. This would help to ease congestion.