MBTA removing trolley buses that run on overhead wires from service

MBTA bus riders have mixed views about the move away from the electric-powered trackless trolleys that have run on overhead wires for nearly 90 years.
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[@blm479]

Big mistake.

[@SamSitar]

wire bus routes are easier to find.

[@Telecolor-in3cl]

@@SamSitar True.

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

It was totally uncalled for that the MBTA management did this very stupid, unfortunate and dastardly thing. Especially now, with the world oil situation in a state of crisis. All it takes are one, two, maybe three people in positions of authority at the MBTA to make a foolish, inept decision like this. Not only should they be fired for gross incompetence,, but they should go to prison for the wanton destruction of valuable public property. It would cost a tremendous amount of money to replace that trackless trolley infrastructure that will be cut down, destroyed and sold for pennies on the dollar.. It includes power substations, feeder cables, spare parts to maintain the fleet of trackless trolleys, etc. The vehicles themselves will probably be sold off at scrap prices. I am very angry that the MBTA has gone ahead with this incredibly idiotic and foolish move and not at least have postponed it, pending the volatile and unpredictable world oil situation. Anybody with common sense would have put the unproven battery buses on diesel bus lines and not destroyed the trackless trolley lines. But it's no secret that MBTA hates trackless trolleys and this battery bus thing is a perfect excuse for them. They're not kidding anybody !! SEPTA {Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority} in Philadelphia has a fleet of battery buses that have been stored away, hidden out of sight for two years. They were a colossal failure. They'd like you to just forget them. They acted with great haste and glee to cut the trackless trolley wires down in South Philly, to make sure those lines could never come back. Of course they'll say, "see, it would be too costly to bring the trackless trolleys back now". Forget the fact that the residents in South Philly wanted the trackless trolleys to be kept. What SEPTA should have done is purchase dual-mode trackless trolleys like the new ones in Dayton, Ohio. They can easily bypass construction projects. See video. But much like the MBTA, SEPTA does little or nothing to hide the fact that they hate trackless trolleys. @

[@AlexXPandian]

Replace with electric battery buses and do away with all that ugly tech from the last century and still be better than diesel ?

[@jasoncrablephillytransitbo4633]

I Agree

[@Cousinduck01]

Dayton got new fleet trolley buses I don’t understand why they needed to remove over a ugly ahh diesel bus that literally every main city has like the same model as New York philly Baltimore Washington dc and more…

[@ahliypronouncedah-lee7269]

Your post is over a year old but did you hear about what SEPTA did to the previous trolley coaches before having them replaced?

[@JuliasCesar]

I’m from Vancouver Canada and our transit system and transportation agency Translink is the last remaining operator of Trolleybuses in our nation. Our network comprises of ALL the major routes heading into downtown and out besides a few diesel routes. All other bus routes in the entire region are diesel or battery electric. We have no issues with dewiring as the newer trolleys we have are a lot better with keeping contact. We constantly upgrade and replace old switches and wires to keep it in good order. The Province next door Alberta’s big city to the north Edmonton has chosen to scrap their network citing aging busses and whatnot. They did and ended up regretting it pretty quickly as not only did the electric buses freeze and not turn on (Edmonton winters get up to -40 on average) they costed 3 times as much per vehicle and operations. Translink in Vancouver is keeping our network and even expanding it by getting a whole 300 new Trolleybuses as they can work alongside our electric battery buses and complement them greatly. Terrible decision on MBTA’s part they’ll regret it soon enough!

[@reynardfoxx6753]

No more trackless trollies= Diesel fumes in Cambridge.

[@graffmixer]

Only for 2 years

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Its not that lethal. Those BAE hybrids they are temporarily utilizing run like an EVs and rarely use their iCE (diesel engine)

[@Yoshiistic]

@@MarloSoBalJr your disgusting.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Problem is that you've already got diesel fumes in the Harvard Bus Tunnels from all those bus routes running in the tunnels that are not 71, 72, 73, or 77A.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@REALChannel99 People who have to use the Harvard bus tunnels have plenty of reason to care.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

When the street work ends, put wires back up and get Waterfront Silver Line dual modes that have been converted to straight electric trolleycoaches. Seattle did that with its dual modes when the tunnel they ran in was converted to Link light rail. And upgrade the Washington Ave Silver Line to trolleycoaches like people there were promised after the Orange Line el was demolished. That guy who said the trolleycoaches are slow, wait til he sees how slow their diesel bus replacements are.

[@moskva_channel]

In 2020 in my city closed biggest trolleybus system in world after 86 years of service. Boston trolleybus was killed after 86 years too...

[@freightersonthegreatlakes995]

The MBTA is really stupid for that, trolley busses are so much better then battery busses

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

They should have tried battery buses on some other routes first before removing all the overhead wires. And why are the road work projects taking 5 years anyway?

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

My thoughts exactly. Anybody with common sense would have put the unproven battery buses on diesel bus lines and not destroyed the trackless trolley lines. But it's no secret that MBTA hates trackless trolleys and this battery bus thing is a perfect excuse for them. They're not kidding anybody !!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@Jeff-uj8xi Not only that, they seem to hate electrified rail transport as well outside of the rapid transit and light rail lines -- they seem to be completely recalcitrant to any concept of electrifying their Commuter Rail lines (even though the line to Providence is already electrified except for the last piece of the track that goes to the TF Green extension of this), even though their own Fiscal Control Board has recommended electrification.

[@bobjones1999]

This is the dumbest idea ever! Trackless Trolley Busses are nearly emission free and are cheaper compared to battery buses. Trolley Busses don't need a battery which reduces the need to have people mine lithium etc. The trolley busses are lighter because there isn't a battery and they're simplier making the upkeep cheaper.

[@ak5659]

I'd like to see a list of verified cases in which the MBTA has removed tracks, wires, or anything electric for whatever reason/project and then PUT BACK the electric service that was removed. The MBTA may begin its list now.

[@mmandmcb14]

Overhead wires can be sent the trolley museum in Shelburne falls.

[@interstellarphred]

when the promised future battery buses end up permanently being diesel, those wires will be gone with regrets. A "Charley" event once again, like Green line "A" and "E" and they always get away with it.

[@SamSitar]

battery electric is a mistake.

[@markhenry659]

Exactly I like trolley buses and diesel buses

[@graffmixer]

Its the future though!!!

[@mmandmcb14]

They're memories 🤧

[@ak5659]

There's one commonality I've noticed among all battery powered vehicles that replace ICE vehicles. There's NEVER any discussion of how SIMULTANEOUS use of heater, defrosters, headlights, wipers, washers, etc. affect range..... ESPECIALLY at below freezing temps. Separately from the foregoing, ice and snow on the roads often require wheelspin to maintain/regain normal operation. The above is not aimed at the MBTA specifically, but at anyone proposing replacement of ICE vehicles of ANY kind with electric. There was a famous race back in 1893 that was won by a gasoline powered Duryea horseless carriage because the electric cars drained their batteries and the steam cars lost their heads (of steam) due to wheel slippage on the snow covered roads.

[@danielbellon1635]

Horse and buggy in "2040" just like the early 20th centuries

[@generalbacon6955]

NOOOOO

[@jasoncrablephillytransitbo4633]

Naw That's Not Cool I Love Trackless Trolleys So Unfair HOW DARE THAT HAPPENS

[@jasoncrablephillytransitbo4633]

They Shouldn't Dare Do That

[@danielbellon1635]

2040 funny

[@leftoverbacon]

this is soooooo short sighted. Battery electric busses are nowhere near as environmentally friendly as electric trolly busses.

[@dickjohnson5025]

I don’t see the problem

[@thgserra]

Big Mistake

[@jeffreysmith85]

Mistake

[@blurryrobot3198]

What a brain-dead scheme.

[@MutedAds]

Yeah they’re pretty cringe.

[@dickjohnson5025]

Cringe?? Use more real words

[@9roselove9]

Ur cringe boi

[@dickjohnson5025]

@@9roselove9 What? That doesn’t make sense. Try English not ebonics

[@MutedAds]

@@9roselove9 cool

[@Yoshiistic]

@@MutedAds this kid here

[@MarloSoBalJr]

For nostalgia sake, Im not a fan of it but I agree with MBTA. Those EVs would make life easier on both 71 & 73 lines. Those Neoplans were reaching their useful lifespan anyways

[@chancetvonb9831]

Then replace them with newer trolleybuses, Seattle and San Francisco have invested in new trolleybuses.

[@Yoshiistic]

Your a disgrace.

[@johnvongoeler7936]

beig replaced by diesel hybrid.... diesel is better than electric?

[@zitoni7741]

It's about time. Send them to Venezuela instead friendship

[@seamusmckeon9109]

Why didn’t you like them