New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, a charming place but it is known to be quite a windy city, like Chicago. Australians just love saying windy Wellington with a fake NZ accent but not quite as much as they like saying six in an NZ accent.
As did most decently sized Antipodean towns, Wellington had trams and as most decent sized Antipodean towns, they got rid of them. Melbourne is really the only Antipodean town that kept them, and aren't we laughing now. Adelaide did keep one tram line.
Instead of replacing the electric trams with diesel buses, Wellington replaced their trams with electric trolley buses. New Zealand is not known as an oil producing nation, and so has to import its oil products at a high cost for cars, trucks, buses.
So isn't Wellington laughing now, with its electric trolley bus system, being powered by electricity mostly generated by renewable energy.
Well no, actually. There are plans to shut down the electric trolley bus system in Wellington. Back to the 1950s where the influence of oil companies saw the shut down of electric trams all over the world, especially in Western countries.
Perhaps the system is old and decrepit? Well, not by the look of the vehicles.
Some brief and not too heavy reading here.
Andrew, a renewable energy is a solution. This type of transport is the best. New Zeland is a wise nation because they reduce pollution and it is very important especially in areas as mine.
ReplyDeleteGosia, so they should not get rid of trolley buses and replace them with diesel.
DeleteHad to look up Antipodean. Now I know something new.
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly a might fine looking yellow bus. It reminds me of Thomas the Train.
Rubye, it is a word British people are fond of using in reference to us, if not convicts. Yes, it is Thomas like.
DeleteI hope they can save them. New Zealand has always struck me as being, on some levels at least, a really forward thinking nation. Votes for women, gay marriage, not joining in the Iraq war for starters...
ReplyDeleteI agree EC. It would be such a backward step.
DeleteIt makes no sense at all to shut down a perfectly good system that works.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why they'll probably do it. Can't have the general public getting complacent now, can they?
River, they may well not shut it down. There must be some local public pressure.
DeleteWho knows if their polies are like our polies they will do what they like it is not always a wise choice and it doesn't have to make sense.
ReplyDeleteMerle..........
Merle, we see that often enough in Australia.
DeleteHow ridiculous, ditching electric trolley buses in a country with such a high level of renewable electricity, only to replace it with diesel. I wonder if the fuel companies have been applying pressure?
ReplyDeleteRJ, I think fuel companies always keep the pressure on about the benefits of vehicles that directly consume fuel.
DeleteA natural response to this story is to scratch one's head and ask "why?". A less natural response is to follow the link for an answer, but this afternoon I am in the mood to be unnatural. Okay, the proposed routes don't fit with the existing electric network. Of course.
ReplyDeleteFC, that is what is being said, the trolley buses don't fit with the bigger picture of an improved public bus system. I should think adapt the improved bus system to the trolley bus routes.
DeleteSydney had trolley buses when I was a child; all gone now. The overhead wiring is ugly but I remember the buses were very quiet.
ReplyDeleteVictor, I am from Melbourne. I am used to overhead wires. Kogarah had a trolley bus line, and there was one through the 'Cross' to where? I would have to look it up, but I think down to the 'Loo.
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