Trambuses in Paris, originally commissioned by Île-de-France Mobilités from Van Hool, will now be manufactured by Swiss company Hess. A total of 56 units are expected to be operational in the French capital.
According to French media outlet Ville Rail & Transport, the public transport authority sought a new manufacturer after Van Hool declared bankruptcy, prompting VDL to discontinue production of Van Hool city buses. Following this development, Île-de-France Mobilités has reportedly reached an agreement with Hess to fulfill the order.
The trambus was officially showcased at Busworld 2023. In March 2024, Van Hool’s crisis manager, Marc Zwaaneveld, expressed concerns regarding the production of these buses, citing high manufacturing costs. He stated that producing the trambuses for Paris was “a high risk” due to their expense.
Hess is positioned to resume production once it gains access to the 25 buses that have yet to be delivered. Five of the 30 ordered buses have already arrived in Paris, while the remaining units are currently located at the former Van Hool facility in Koningshooikt, near Antwerp. These buses still require the installation of traction systems and technical equipment. The production involves collaboration with Alstom for the ground charging system and Kiepe Electric for batteries, auxiliary power inverters, cooling systems, and power distributors.
Île-de-France Mobilités is reportedly finalizing an agreement with the receivers of the bankrupt Van Hool, which is expected to facilitate access to the remaining buses. Delivery is anticipated by mid-2025.
Source: sustainable-bus.com
