Chronology / news: Dayton

RTA board of trustees authorized purchase of 26 NexGen trolleybuses with Vossloh Kiepe electrical equipment and Gillig bus bodies at ~$1,2 million each. The expected service target date is 2019. 80% of the purchase will be financed by the US federal funds. 15 more trolleybuses will be bought once federal funding becomes available. The NexGen trolleybus costs 63% more than a standard diesel bus, but has a 20-year / 800,000 mile life before rehabs, compared to the diesel’s 12-year / 500,000 mile life. Electric trolleybuses are also cheaper to operate, better for the environment and quieter. The purchase comes after 3 years of testing of 4 prototypes — 2 with a diesel auxiliary option, and 2 with a battery option. The model chosen will be powered off-wire by a 1361-kg Lithium Titanate Oxide battery, which allows driving for 15 miles off-wire at 50 mph fully loaded.
http://transphoto.ru/photo/1057646/

Delivery of four Gillig / Vossloh Kiepe prototype dual-mode buses is complete. Two buses use a diesel-powered generator to power the traction motors and the other two use batteries only.

Streetcar operation in Dayton is discontinued.

Dayton Street Railway Co. opens first horse street railway line in Dayton.