Buses with Guided Systems

[Aictos]

Simply how simple is it to fit a guided system to a bus to allow it to use a busway for example a system using guide wheels as the buses use on the Luton Busway?

Equally how simple is it to remove such a system when cascading to non Busway routes?

Can those systems be fitted to any type of bus or coach OR are there basic requirements of length, height etc?

 

[carlberry]

Simply how simple is it to fit a guided system to a bus to allow it to use a busway for example a system using guide wheels as the buses use on the Luton Busway?

Equally how simple is it to remove such a system when cascading to non Busway routes?

Can those systems be fitted to any type of bus or coach OR are there basic requirements of length, height etc?

Theres an article here:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_bus]
however I think the requirements are a bit more complex than the impression in the article so certain chassis are good for guided applications and some would be avoided because they're more costly to work with. Once removed the vehicle is identical to a none guided one. Most guideways also include vehicle traps so they'd have a requirement on vehicle widths which would rule out some vehicles.

 

[Aictos]

Yeah I did see that article but I wondered if anyone here who knows the bus industry could be more specific then Wikipedia?

Like could a bendy bus be fitted with the system?

 

[PeterC]

With regard to dimensions I believe that one of the earliest busways in Germany could not have the vehicles upgraded as production buses were wider than the guage of the original design. A guided busway is, after all, simply a concrete plateway.

 

[DavidGrain]

I believe that the guided buses used in Birmingham from 1984-1987 needed a special de-rogation as the guiding mechanism slightly increased the width over the permitted dimensions. Once the guiding mechanism was removed they ran as ordinary buses for many more years.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Theres an article here:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_bus]
however I think the requirements are a bit more complex than the impression in the article so certain chassis are good for guided applications and some would be avoided because they're more costly to work with. Once removed the vehicle is identical to a none guided one. Most guideways also include vehicle traps so they'd have a requirement on vehicle widths which would rule out some vehicles.

Good example of this would be ADL integrals, these cannot be fitted with guidewheels, hence Stagecoach purchasing B8RLEs and N230UDs instead.

 

[Darklord8899]

Before we got the lovely tram in Edinburgh, the section from Stenhouse to Gyle was a guided busway for service 2 and 22.
I seem to recall that while there was some new buses bought already with guide wheels, there was a number of both single and double Deckers that were retro fitted with guide wheels.
Likewise, after the trams started the buses had their guide wheels removed, if you knew where to look you could tell which buses had been used on the busway as they still had the brackets for the guide wheels, though the wheels were removed.
All seemed to be easily converted to/from guided use without too much hassle or modifications.

 

[Mr Manager]

Dont forget FEC in Martlesham still has the guided busway on route 66

 

[Jordan Adam]

Like could a bendy bus be fitted with the system?

Yes, Artics are not an issue on busways at all. K1GRT was used on the Leeds Guideway when she made her two trips south in the 90s. The Manchester B10LAs were also new with equipment for use on a busway (as standard with all buses new to First Manchester at the time).

 

[dazzler]

Yes, Artics are not an issue on busways at all. K1GRT was used on the Leeds Guideway when she made her two trips south in the 90s. The Manchester B10LAs were also new with equipment for use on a busway (as standard with all buses new to First Manchester at the time).

There is video out there on YouTube of bendy buses on the Essen guided busway in Germany. They have an extra set of guide wheels by the rear axle (presumably to stop the rear wheels from over-topping the guide-way?)


Edit: Found the video of the Essen bendy guided buses.

 

[padbus]

The Essen buses operated in trolleybus mode through the tram tunnels under the city centre as shown in this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYG7h1U5G0.

The Adelaide busway makes extensive use of bendybuses.

 

[WatcherZero]

For a kerb guided bus its simply a mechanical arm and wheel that attaches to the wheel hub, couple of hours work and the kits cost about £20k but can be easily swapped between buses. they do increase the width of the bus slightly but particularly on corners where the wheel is turned the arms can throw out which can catch pedestrians and cyclists.