STM road-testing articulated buses  

STM road-testing articulated buses  

Montreal, 7 March 2005 - As part of its 2008-2010 procurement programme for articulated buses, the STM will be conducting a comparative analysis of the road-handling aspect of two types of articulated buses under winter conditions. The first model, similar to front-wheel drive, has its powered axle at the front of the vehicle for traction, while on the second model, the rear trailer section propels the front of the bus.

Road tests will be held March 7 and 8, without passengers, on eleven bus routes: 45 – Papineau, 48 – Perras, 49 – Maurice-Duplessis, 55 – Boulevard Saint-Laurent, 67 – Saint-Michel, 69 – Gouin, 80 – Avenue du Parc, 121 – Sauvé/Côte-Vertu, 141 – Jean-Talon Est, 165 – C�te-des-Neiges and 535 – Voies r�serv�es Du Parc/C�te-des-Neiges. Other bus routes may be added if needed. More trials will also be carried out March 9-11 on the PMG Technologies testing track in Blainville.

The STM will afterwards compile and analyze comments from transit users, especially regarding the interior layout and comfort of these vehicles. To that end, the STM will hold further road-tests in April, this time under actual operating conditions with passengers on board.

This evaluation process has been made possible with the help of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) and the City of Ottawa (OC Transpo), who are lending the STM conceptually different types of articulated buses for the entire testing period.