The operator of public transport in the Greater Vancouver area, Translink, has been working on a project for the renewal of its trolleybus fleet and possible expansion of the system, which currently has a fleet of 262 vehicles operating on 14 routes.
A bidding process for the new fleet was held over the summer and early autumn of 2024. It is understood that there were at least two bidders in the competition.
On 3rd March 2025, Solaris Bus and Coach was announced as the winner. The trolleybuses will be fitted with electric traction equipment from Medcom, another Polish company. The vehicles will be fitted with batteries and have the latest In Motion Charging technology. The contract specifies an off-wire range of 20km, which should be achieved in all types of weather. This is important, as HVAC demand can double power demand in high summer or the depths of winter. Solaris has developed a North American version of the Trollino specifically for the local market, ensuring full compliance with regulations. Unlike the existing European Trollino, these buses will only have two sets of doors on the 12m trolleybus.
The success of Solaris in the competition has not come as a surprise to informed observers. In anticipation of the forthcoming competition, in summer 2023 Solaris shipped a demonstrator Trollino12 trolleybus to Vancouver, where it was very favourably received by transit personnel – we reported here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/vancouver-test-of-a-solaris-battery-trolleybus/.
Unusually, the order comprises a heavy proportion of option buses. The scheme is as follows.
| Initial order | Available options | Maximum | |
| 12m trolleybus | 107 | 201 | 308 |
| 18m trolleybus | – | 204 | 204 |
| TOTAL | 107 | 405 | 512 |
The value of the initial order is CAN$181 million or CAN$1.69 million per vehicle. Delivery is expected as early as 2026. A spokesman for Translink has indicated that the next stage would be a second order of 155 trolleybuses (thereof 74 articulated vehicles) that would complete the replacement of the existing fleet of 262 buses. The remaining options are available for expansion beyond the existing network to routes that go beyond existing overhead network. One particular feature is the scope for the use of battery trolleybuses on forthcoming BRT routes. We hope to write about the expansion plans in due course.
