Trolleybuses in São Paulo
Trolleybuses in São Paulo provide a portion of the public transport service in Greater São Paulo, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with two independent trolleybus systems.[1][2] The SPTrans (São Paulo Transportes) system opened in 1949 and serves the city of São Paulo, while the Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos de São Paulo (EMTU) system opened in 1988 and serves suburban areas to the southeast of the city proper. Worldwide, São Paulo is one of only two metropolitan areas possessing two independent trolleybus systems, the other being Naples, Italy.[2]
Trolleybuses in São Paulo | |
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![]() A 2011-built CAIO/Scania three-axle trolleybus of the SPTrans system | |
Operation | |
Locale | São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
Open | SPTrans (ex-CMTC) system: 1949 EMTU system: 1988 |
Routes | SPTrans: 13 EMTU: 10 |
Owner(s) | SPTrans, EMTU |
Operator(s) | SPTrans system: Ambiental Transportes Urbanos S.A. (concessionaire, since 2011) EMTU system: Metra (concessionaire, since 1997) |
Infrastructure | |
Electrification | 600 VDC |
Stock | SPT: 199 EMTU/Metra: 79 |
History
The urban network now owned by SPTrans opened on 22 April 1949,[1][3] the first trolleybus system to open in Brazil.[4] The municipally owned system was operated by the Companhia Municipal de Transportes Coletivos (Municipal Public Transport Authority) (CMTC) until 1994, when it was semi-privatized, with a new municipal authority, SPTrans, maintaining public ownership of the system but with operation contracted out to private companies through a competitive bidding. At the start of privately run operation, there were three different concessionaires for different parts of the SPTrans, ex-CMTC trolleybus network.[4] The SPTrans network was much larger at that time.
The SPTrans system comprises 13 lines (two of them currently suspended) and is operated with 199 trolleybuses by a concessionaire, Ambiental Transportes Urbanos. SPTrans owns and maintains the infrastructure, such as overhead wires, substations, passenger terminals and depots/garages. Ambiental is responsible for purchasing new vehicles, but ownership of vehicles passes to SPTrans eight years from time of purchase. Ambiental was awarded the concession to operate the service in SPTrans Zone 4 (also known as the Eastern Zone), both trolleybus and motorbus, in 2011, after the purchase of Himalaia Transportes.
The EMTU trolleybus system opened on 3 December 1988,[3][4] (sometimes given as 19 November 1988,[1] when free public service began operating). It currently has six lines, serving the São Mateus–Jabaquara Metropolitan Corridor, which links São Paulo with the ABC Region cities of Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo Andre and Mauá in Greater São Paulo. These lines are also operated by a concessionaire, Metra, under the supervision of EMTU. Metra was awarded the contract in 1997.[1]
SPTrans lines
Line | Route |
2002/10 | Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II – Terminal Bandeira – Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II (circular) |
2100/10 | Terminal Vila Carrão – Praça da Sé – Terminal Vila Carrão (circular) |
2290/10 | Terminal São Mateus – Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II |
3139/31 | Jardim Vila Formosa – Praça Clóvis Bevilacqua – Jardim Vila Formosa (circular) |
3160/10 | Terminal Vila Prudente – Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II |
342M/10 | Terminal São Mateus – Terminal Penha |
408A/10 | Machado de Assis – Cardoso de Almeida – Machado de Assis (circular) |
4112/10 | Santa Margarida Maria – Praça da República – Santa Margarida Maria (circular) |
4113/10 | Gentil de Moura – Praça da República – Gentil de Moura (circular) |
2101/10 | Praça Sílvio Romero – Praça da Sé |
2101/41 | Praça Sílvio Romero – Terminal Vila Prudente |
The last two of these lines are the ones currently suspended; they are presently being operated by diesel powered buses.
SPTrans current fleet
As at 2014, the SPTrans trolleybus fleet was as follows:
Fleet numbers | Quantity | Manufacturer (overall and body) | Chassis manufacturer | Electrical equipment | Model No. | Configuration | Low-floor or high-floor | Year built |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
4 1902 – 4 1917 | LF | |||||||
LF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
LF |
- The last high-floor trolleybuses on the SPTrans system were retired in September 2013.[5] The last such vehicles in service were Marcopolo/Volvo trolleybuses built in the 1990s.
- SPTrans Marcopolo/Volvo articulated trolleybus No. 1486. It originated in 1985 as a CAIO/Volvo trolleybus (No. 8000) but was rebodied in 1997 by Marcopolo. It has since been retired.
EMTU lines
Line | Route |
284 | Terminal São Mateus – Terminal Santo André Oeste |
284M | Terminal São Mateus – Shopping Metrópole |
285 | Terminal São Mateus – Terminal Ferrazópolis |
286 | Terminal Santo André Leste – Terminal Ferrazópolis |
287P | Terminal Santo André Leste – Terminal Piraporinha |
288 | Terminal Ferrazópolis – Terminal Jabaquara |
288P | Terminal Ferrazópolis – Terminal Piraporinha |
289 | Terminal Piraporinha – Terminal Jabaquara |
290 | Terminal Diadema – Terminal Jabaquara |
487 | Terminal Sônia Maria – Shopping ABC |
Service on all lines is operated with a mix of trolleybuses and diesel buses.
EMTU current fleet
As at 2014, the EMTU trolleybus fleet was as follows:
Fleet numbers | Quantity | Manufacturer (overall and body) | Chassis manufacturer | Electrical equipment | Model No. | Configuration | Low-floor or high-floor | Year built |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LF | ||||||||
HF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
LF | ||||||||
HF | ||||||||
HF | ||||||||
LF |
References
- Moraes, Jorge (March–April 1999). "São Paulo in 1998". Trolleybus Magazine No. 224, pp. 32–35. National Trolleybus Association (UK). ISSN 0266-7452.
- Webb, Mary (ed.) (2011). Jane's Urban Transport Systems 2011-2012, pp. "[23]" and "[24]" (in foreword). Coulsdon, Surrey (UK): Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2954-8.
- "Trolleybus city : São Paulo (SPT) (Brasilien)". trolleymotion.com/en/. TrolleyMotion. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- Murray, Alan (2000). World Trolleybus Encyclopaedia, pp. 49, 81. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks. ISBN 0-904235-18-1.
- Trolleybus Magazine No. 313 (January–February 2014), pp. 16–17. National Trolleybus Association (UK).
External links
Media related to Trolleybuses in São Paulo at Wikimedia Commons
- SPTrans website (in Portuguese)
- Metra website (in Portuguese)
- "Trolleybus city: Sao Paulo (SPT)". Trolleymotion. and "Trolleybus city: São Paulo (EMTU)". Trolleymotion.
- São Paulo database / photo gallery and São Paulo trolleybus list at Urban Electric Transit – in various languages, including English.