The lighTram® 25 is that vehicle. Spanning 24.5 metres long, it’s Australia’s longest electric vehicle; a new mode of transit between bus and rail. The lighTram 25 is a mid-tier transport solution offering operators high passenger capacity similar to a tram or light rail and the manoeuvrability and flexibility conventionally associated with an articulated bus.
Designed in Switzerland by experienced vehicle manufacturer HESS, the lighTram 25 will be unveiled at BIC’s National Bus and Coach Show. For those based in Brisbane, the vehicle will be a familiar sight. In 2022, Brisbane City Council commenced testing the lighTram 25 as its pilot vehicle for the turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro project.
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Council is due to commence Brisbane Metro passenger services later this year, with the fleet operating along dedicated busways as part of a better planned network for Brisbane commuters.
HESS regional manager Peter Dale says showcasing the vehicle at the National Bus and Coach Show in Brisbane is an opportunity for the entire bus industry to experience the sheer space and capacity, plus catch a glimpse of the vehicles travelling on the busways of Brisbane.
“The lighTram 25 is well beyond the testing phase. It’s a proven solution that’s ready to be rolled out in other major cities,” Dale told ABC.
“More than 20 vehicles have been delivered to Brisbane City Council and the vehicles will be a familiar site with the metros completing reliability testing along Brisbane’s busways.
“Yes, the vehicles are new, but this is all happening now and it’s real.”
HESS CEO Alex Naef will officially launch the lighTram 25 during the BIC Bus and Show next month, saying although the vehicle may not look, feel and sound like a conventional bus, one of its greatest advantages is that it doesn’t necessitate drastic changes to bus operators.
“The lighTram 25 is a flexible, high-capacity, electric vehicle that can future-proof existing bus routes. An opportunity for bus operators to continue as bus operators, using a lot of their existing expertise and infrastructure,” Naef tells ABC.
“We feel privileged to contribute to a public transport system that will lead the way in Australia. We always knew that lighTram 25 would offer something Australia hasn’t seen before: a vehicle capable of quietly, efficiently and sustainably transporting large numbers of people without being reliant on rail infrastructure.”
The future of public transport
The timing of the lighTram 25 launch coincides with a newly discovered interest in Bus Rapid Transit – BRT – systems. In the last twelve months, the New South Wales and Victorian Governments have released reports on evolving their bus services, growing network demand and capacity with BRT a major plank, while the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has announced the preferred vehicle option for the Sunshine Coast is BRT, over light rail.
Dale says the resurgence and genuine interest in BRT is an exciting time for HESS and a major opportunity for the entire industry.
“Governments are now openly discussing BRT as a flexible and cost-effective measure to increase capacity and move people quickly and efficiently,” he says.
“Buses can take a lead role in a city’s transport network and for good reason, BRT and bus travel is being seen as a step up, not a step down.”
He says the lighTram 25 could provide the centrepiece and required capacity to implement an efficient and effective BRT mass transit system.
“If you examine great examples of BRT like Bogata in South America, it needs to be simple for passengers, efficient and be based on a network of vehicle options feeding into an entire transport system.”
“Yes, you need more 12 metre and articulated buses but what the lighTram 25 provides is increased capacity to do the heavy lifting within a bus rapid solution. When you have capacity constraints the lighTram 25 can relieve it.”
HESS and Volgren extend their long running partnership
To bolster the Australian launch of the lighTram 25, Volgren has extended a 45-year partnership with HESS, providing local sales and delivery support for the biarticulated vehicle.
Volgren will also provide final fit out, installation and commissioning of the Brisbane Metro vehicles plus after sales support through spare parts warehousing and body repairs.
Naef says the partnership combines global solutions and local expertise; strengthening HESS’ presence in Australia and introducing the lighTram 25 to operators in metro areas.
“When Volgren first introduced HESS’ CO-BOLT® aluminium system in 1977 it signalled a step change for the industry – a vehicle with a longer working life, shorter downtime and less need for repair. It also signalled the start of a formidable partnership, offering global solutions and local expertise.”
“Like all good partnerships, the two companies complement each other. Electric vehicles are part of HESS’ DNA which Volgren can tap as it grows its electric bus manufacturing in Australia. Volgren brings a deep understanding of the Australian bus industry and a long association with Brisbane City Council as well.”
Dale says Volgren understands that the lighTram 25 is more than a bus, it represents an entire transport solution.
“We’re very excited to continue the partnership and keen to build on their relationship to offer the lighTram 25 in Australia.”
Volgren CEO Thiago Deiro says the strategic partnership with HESS has been pivotal in advancing their capabilities and driving innovation in the Australian bus manufacturing industry.
“Through this collaboration, we’ve leveraged HESS’s global expertise and technological advancements to introduce the lighTram 25, a cutting-edge electric bus that meets the evolving needs of urban transit systems,” Deiro tells ABC.
“This partnership allows us to offer high-capacity, sustainable transport solutions while maintaining our commitment to local manufacturing and job creation. By combining our strengths, we are able to provide innovative, efficient, and reliable transportation options that are set to transform the future of public transport in Australia.”