Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB), managing public transport in the Swiss city of Basel, will introduce eleven Hess lighTram 25 OPP articulated electric buses on line 30 with the start of the 2027/2028 timetable. The route, connecting Basel SBB station with Baden railway station, is one of the busiest in the network. The news is shared by Hess via a press note.

As 2023, the public transport company had completed the construction of a charging station for electric buses at the Kleinhüningen stop near Hochbergerplatz.

Today, buses on line 30 operate every 3.75 minutes during peak periods. Since further frequency increases are not possible, BVB will use the 24-metre articulated vehicles to provide additional capacity. The lighTram 25 OPP offers extended space for passengers, luggage and wheelchairs, supporting accessibility and passenger flow on high-demand services.

The vehicle type is already in operation in Basel in eight units. Since early 2023, the same buses have been running on airport line 50, where their capacity and the “opportunity charging” concept have been tested in daily service. BVB is also operating a wide fleet of eCitaro by Daimler Buses.

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