Essen dual-mode-bus westbound phase 2

Primarily about the former 'dual-mode-bus' demonstration system in Essen, Germany, this film shows the full extent of tunnel operations where the buses (operating in OBahn / 'kerb guided' mode and as 'electric trolleybuses) shared tunnels with the trams (streetcars in American).
After several trial sections of O-Bahn / 'kerb guided busway' located in suburban districts of Essen had proven the concepts to be viable Phase 1 of the joint tunnel operations saw buses extended through the existing Porscheplatz station.
Phase 2 saw a new extension of the tunnel being built which from the outset was fitted out for shared use by buses and trams (streetcars). This included two more subterranean stations for which the buses (and some older trams) needed passenger doors fitting on the other side. The buses were designed for this possibility when they were first built.
Whilst shared operations did work there were technical issues which could have been resolved except that with German reunification and the ending of funding for the 'dual-mode-bus'
demonstration project it was decided that due to the lack of finance it would be best to stop the buses using the tunnels.
This video includes all 3 underground stations as well as the new station at the new entrance / exit ramp, although due to lack of time on the only visit when the buses were actually using the extension (3 visits, but only 1 where the buses were using the new section) so buses are not seen using the station on the tunnel ramp.
More information on Essen's 'dual-mode-bus' demonstration project and the OBahn / kerb guided busway in general can be found here: citytransport.i...

[@joste77]

Damn, it literally was as good as i remember my childhood. What a beautiful and safe place this once was.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

It is many years since I was there, so I can only imagine what it is like now (2024)

[@BusseUndBahnen]

the buses stopped operating tunnel driving in 1995 and the buses were sold to Mostransavto in Moscow.

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

Essen, no. Dual mode trolleybuses buses which alos operate as part time motor buses can be found in several towns and cities, such as Solingen (at Burg terminus), in Esslingen near Stuttgart, and others in other countries. Simon

[@ahouragoo]

Love this my hometown my Bus 47

[@SimonS44]

I think it's a pity that there are no more Spurbusse in Essen or at least no more in the tunnels, the route to Kray via the motorway still exists, with diesel buses

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

SimonHellinger I agree, it is a shame the the buses no longer travel Underground. There is talk of converting the Kray route back to trams. The original O-Bahn route (to Fulerum) is now a cycleway.

[@SimonS44]

citytransportinfo I think it's a good idea to convert the route to Kray, but I also like Spurbusse and they should a Spurbus route somewhere else and without closing an existing tram route

[@moskva_channel]

All Spurbuses were sent to Moscow region (Himki, Podolsk, Korolev and other)

[@Eisenbahnfan]

Thanks for posting this

[@Trainbrain1949]

We used to have electric buses here in Chicago, but they eliminated them in 1972. We also had one of the largest fleets of propane powered buses too. Somebody said diesel is the way to go, so they got rid of them too. Real forward thinkers!!

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

Trainbrain1949 One problem with the propane buses in Chicago was that in the end, since no other city in the USA used them at that point, it proved impossible to get spare parts since all the manufacturers had gone out of business.

[@fabiod9972]

Fantastic video, but how does the bus maintain driving stability with only one steer driving wheel at the front? How much Steer driving wheel are on normal and 18m buses?

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

there are two guidewheels - one on each side - In Essen and Mannheim the buses had a guidewheel next to every road wheel. Everywhere else (Australia and all the British systems) the buses only have guidewheels at the front

[@puddingpower0056]

schade ....2009 bin ich wenig/garnicht mit öffentlichen verkehrsmitteln gefahren und ich habe mich nicht dafür interessiert. Ich würde das gerne mal live mit erleben ,aber das ist leider zu spät.......wie ich aber von meiem vater gehört hab ,gab es immer wieder probleme/unfälle mit den bussen im Tunnel LG Jan (13)

[@amardondoci1642]

is beatiful is kerb

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

I thought that your propane buses were 'got rid of' after an explosion at the refuelling facility. Simon

[@MarkEklasse-OGN]

O405N1

[@bentleyv8t]

Our O-Bahn in Adelaide is a lot better.