Trolleybuses in Mérida
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Mérida, Venezuela |
| Transit type | Trolleybus |
| Number of stations | 15 |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | June 18, 2007 |
| Operator(s) | Tromerca (Trolebús Mérida, CA) |
| Technical | |
| System length | 10.2 km |
The Mérida trolleybus system is an electrified bus rapid transit system that serves Mérida, Venezuela, and surrounding communities. The current line, operated by dual-mode trolleybuses, is considered to be "Line 1" of a planned three-route "Mass Transport System" (Sistema de Transporte Masivo), of which Line 2 is also to be trolleybus and Line 3 is to be an aerial cableway. Line 3 was originally planned as a funicular, but was changed to a cableway in 2005. Construction of line 3, the cableway (now named Trolcable), was about 50 percent complete as of May 2011. Construction has yet to begin on Line 2. The operator of the system was originally named Trolmérida, but in September 2009 its name was changed to Tromerca, for Trolebús Mérida, C.A.
Only a little more than half of Line 1 has opened, thus far. If completed as planned, the full Line 1 will be 18.2 km in length and have 34 stations.
The first 10.2-km section, serving 15 stations, was inaugurated on June 18, 2007. The route connects Ejido with Mérida. Service currently ends at Pie del Llano station, south of Mérida city center. Construction continues, somewhat sporadically, on the section of the line extending northeastwards from there, into the city center.
The following stations are in full operation:
The following stations of Line 1 are under construction or planned:
Line 3, the aerial cableway connect San Jacinto, in the Chama River valley below the city, to a Line 1 trolleybus station in central Mérida and is about 1 km long.
The route is served by a fleet of 45 articulated trolleybuses supplied in 2003 by a partnership of Hispano Carrocera and Mercedes-Benz of Spain, with the vehicles' electrical propulsion equipment provided by Bombardier. Ordered in December 1998, all 45 were delivered in 2003, but construction of the line had fallen behind schedule by then, so the vehicles were stored for an extended period, until the first section of the route was completed.
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