VISEON gets order for electric bus system in Saudi Arabia

•    12 articulated trolley buses for new university campus
•    Renewed project partnership with SICE

Pilsting.Together with Spanish partner SICE, VISEON Bus GmbH has received a large order from Saudi Arabia for the VISEON Rapid Transit System (RTS) based on electrically operated trolley buses. VISEON will supply twelve articulated trolley buses for the public transport system, which will connect the new campus of King Saud University in Riyadh. Partner SICE (Sociedad Ibérica de Construcciones Eléctricas, S.A.) will erect the infrastructure, such as trolley wire network and traffic control system. Thus, VISEON is revitalising its partnership with the Spanish specialist for electric traffic systems. In 2007, SICE introduced a trolley bus system in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, in cooperation with NEOPLAN Bus GmbH. VISEON was successful in the bid for the new King Saud University transport system with its future-oriented, tram design trolley buses against a rail-based transport concept. "The fact that we have received this order from a private developer, shows that VISEON is internationally competitive both as a bus manufacturer and a systems supplier", declared VISEON boss Joachim Reinmuth after the contract signing.

The vehicles intended for King Saud University are based on the NEOPLAN Trolley, a low-floor articulated trolley bus made by VISEON, which has a passenger capacity of 120 people. The buses are around 19.5 metres long and have tram-style design developed in-house with a tapered front. The new design is a visual emphasis of the future-orientation of the extremely quiet and local emissions-free trolley bus system. As temperatures in Riyadh frequently reach more than 50 degrees Celsius, VISEON will equip all vehicles with very powerful air conditioning integrated in the electric drive concept, as well as insulating double glazing and air curtains on the doors.

The campus of the newly built King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh stretches over an area of five square kilometres. In addition to the university clinic and the various scientific and medical institutes, the site includes a large residential area for students, lecturers and staff. The depot and service workshop for the trolley buses are also accommodated on site. The rapid transit project will create an emissions-free transport zone within the university grounds. Students, staff and visitors to the campus will be able to use the rapid transit system with its 24 stations for free in the future. The trolley buses will run on separate bus lines on the site. Priority control at the crossroads to the other streets will ensure smooth and efficient passenger transit.

The order from Saudi Arabia involves the delivery of the VISEON trolley buses by the end of 2011 and is a volume of around 13 million euros for the bus manufacturer.



More information on King Saud University, Riyadh at
www.ksu.edu.sa
www.ksau-hs.edu.sa/English/Pages/default.aspx
www.ngha.med.sa/English/AboutNGHA/Pages/KSAUHS.aspx


More information on SICE at  www.sice.com

VISEON has received an order for 12 articulated trolleybuses for the campus of the King Saud University, Riyadh.

The trolleybuses for Saudi Arabia are especially attractive due to the new trendsetting tram-style design.

The new trolleybuses will be equipped with highly innovative technology, like an electric driven high power air conditioning.

The vehicles of type NEOPLAN Trolley will have insulating double glazing and air curtains on the doors.