The first vehicles will begin circulating at the outset of 2014 in the capital of Minas Gerais
Marcopolo was called upon to provide 70 city buses to be used in MOVE, the recently presented BRT system in the city of Belo Horizonte, set to begin operating in early 2014. Production of the Viale BRT Articulated model vehicles will begin in November.
The name MOVE for the Belo Horizonte BRT system was selected after a study by BHTRANS as it induces movement, traveling from one place to another, while providing comfort, speed, integration, frequency and punctuality in the capital's public transport.
Developed for application in advanced public transport systems in major urban centers, the Marcopolo Viale BRT is the most advanced vehicles ever produced in Brazil and required two years of research and development. The articulated version is 21 meter long, with a capacity to carry up to 145 passengers and conceived with unprecedented design, ergonomic, comfort, safety and efficiency concepts.
Speedy transport with comfort and safety
Internally, the Viale BRT innovates through the occupation of space and ergonomics. The ampler internal width, associated to the configuration of the seats, ensures a larger free area and facilitates the circulation of passengers, making the trip more convenient and comfortable. The internal height has also been increased, permitting the inclusion of efficient air ducts, speakers and a large area of advertising on the upper sides.
The Viale BRT is a robust and extremely reliable vehicle, an image conquered among the people that use them. It is also considered to have an excellent cost/benefit ratio, an attribute recognized by executives from the urban passenger transport sector. Other important features include reduced costs, product sustainability, practicality and onboard technology.
To attain the objective of increasing the perceived value of bus trips, regardless of the course or duration, and to provide operational gains for business executives, the Viale BRT can be provided with GPS, digital TV, wireless Internet, security cameras, onboard computer, as well as audiovisual bus stop indication and fleet management systems.
Ideal for city transport, the Viale has automatic transmission and safety systems so that the bus is unable to drive off with the doors open. The vehicle complies with all the requirements of the boarding platform systems called for in the country, with the option of a door with a 1,100 mm free span in front of the front wheelset and elevated floor, adapted to accessibility.
MOVE
The MOVE system will run for 23.1 km, with three connections (namely Avenida Antônio Carlos, measuring 14.7 km; Cristiano Machado, at 7.1 km long and Hipercentro, 1.3 km long), and will boast 42 transfer stations with average distances of 400 m from one to the other. The number of passengers serviced will be 700,000 per day, offering an average gain of 45% in the reduction of travel times between system locations.
The new MOVE system will also include modern stations (with bus-level floors), where passengers will be able to purchase tickets prior to boarding, ensuring greater safety and agility. The vehicles will have a larger transport capacity, fostering comfort and accessibility.
Photo credit: Osvaldo Palermo