BRT Marrakesh is a bus rapid transit system that is also partly

trolleybus A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tramin the 1910s and 1920sJoyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). ''British Trolleybus Systems'', pp. 9, 12. London: Ian Allan Publishing. .or troll ...

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech (; , ) is the fourth-largest city in Morocco. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakesh–Safi Regions of Morocco, region. The city lies west of the foothills of the Atlas Mounta ...

, Morocco. It opened on 29 September 2017.''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 336 (November–December 2017), p. 230. National Trolleybus Association (UK). The system is officially known as ''Bus à Haut Niveau de Service de Marrakech'' (BHNS de Marrakech), which equates to the English term Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, of Marrakesh. Although the buses are equipped to operate as trolleybuses, only part of the system is fitted with overhead wiring for trolleybuses, and the vehicles operated on batteries over the other sections. The transit system aims at increasing the public transport ridership and providing a tram-like service in a cheap and environmental way. The electricity powering the vehicles comes from

solar power Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to c ...

Lines

The initial route in operation runs from Bab Doukkala in the city center to Al Massira.''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 338 (March–April 2018), pp. 68–69. National Trolleybus Association (UK). It is marked as route A at stops, but trolleybuses in service display only "BRT1" on their

destination sign A destination sign (North American English) or destination indicator/destination blind (British English) is a sign mounted on the front, side or rear of a public transport vehicle, such as a bus, tram/streetcar or light rail vehicle, that di ...

s. This route is long, of which is wired for trolleybus operation. The vehicles are powered on the other sections solely by their batteries, which are recharged from the overhead trolley wires. Other lines are expected to start operations by the end of 2019. MarrakechBHNS-LineA

Fleet

The fleet consists of 10 low-floor trolleybuses built by Dongfeng Yangtse, model Veyron G92 or WG6120BEVHR. At the time of the system's opening in September 2017, it was reported that an additional 20 trolleybuses were on order, and that these would be 18-metre

articulated An articulated vehicle is a vehicle which has a permanent or semi-permanent coupling in its construction. This coupling works as a large pivot joint, allowing it to bend and turn more sharply. There are many kinds, from heavy equipment to buse ...

units.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official presentation on the Marrakech town hall website
(as archived on 3 March 2016) (in French) Marrakesh Public transport in Morocco

Bus rapid transit in Africa