24-meter Trollino, here we go! 16 vehicles are set to run in Bratislava (Slovakia)

The first ever 24-metre Solaris trolleybuses to come to market are set to Slovakia. A 16-units order has been commissioned by operator Dopravný Podnik Bratislava. The 24-meter trolleybuses will roll onto the streets of Bratislava within less than two years. The value of the contract amounts to nearly €17 million, Solaris points out. The entry in operation is scheduled for mid-2023.

24-meter trolleybus for Bratislava

After winning a tender, Solaris has been awarded an order for 16 bi-articulated trolleybuses by operator Dopravný Podnik Bratislava (DPB). The Slovakian carrier is the first customer to opt to purchase the longest vehicle in Solaris’s range. In November last year, operator DPB tested the 24-metre trolleybus in urban traffic, on all its routes.

Due to year-on-year increases in passenger numbers, the carrier was faced with the need to increase passenger capacity on some of them. Therefore, the capacious trolleybus has turned out to be a perfect solution for metropolises with increased passenger traffic, Solaris underlines.

The bi-articulated vehicle made by Solaris was launched in 2019, at the Busworld trade fair in Brussels. It is driven by two traction motors of 160 kW each. Additional traction batteries, placed on the roof of the second section, will be recharged en route by collecting current from the overhead line. Thanks to them, the Trollino will also be able to travel without any external power supply. By pressing one single button the driver will be able to switch from the overhead line to the traction battery drive mode.

160 passengers on the Trollino bi-articulated trolleybus

These over-24-metre trolleybuses will provide space for 160 passengers, including 60 seated. Passenger counting sensors will be placed above the doors, arranged in a layout of 2-2-2-2-2. This innovative model will feature an array of amenities, enhancing safety and travel comfort. Operator Dopravný Podnik Bratislava has opted for standard solutions such as destination blinds, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, LED-lighting in the interior, and easily accessible USB ports. What is more, a CCTV system consisting of 7 external cameras and 9 cameras monitoring the vehicle interior will be installed to aid the driver and to enhance passenger safety.