FIFTY VDL PHILEAS VEHICLES FOR ISTANBUL
Delivery will start in January 2008 of an order for 50 Phileases for the city of Istanbul (Turkey). The Phileases will be operated under the name METROBUS on a 35 km route running from Topkapi (in the centre) to beyond the Ataturk airfield. The purchase of the vehicles and the modification of the infrastructure will cost an amount of 63 million euros.
The Phileases for Istanbul are fitted with 8 double doors, 4 on each side.
A free bus lane will be constructed in the centre section of the motorway E5 running from Topkapi (Istanbul centre) to beyond the Ataturk international airport, a total distance of 35 km. This bus lane in the centre will be provided with about 15 bus stops which can be reached by pedestrian bridges. The first phase of this route with a length of 20 km was officially opened in September 2007.
Magnets have been incorporated into the road surface of the bus lane. These magnets serve as a reference for the vehicle position. The Phileases are actually equipped with an electronic guidance system in which the vehicle is driven automatically at a certain speed which is determined in advance. The route to be followed is preprogrammed into the computer of the vehicle The bus stops automatically at the bus stop at the exact platform height and up to 5 cm from the side.
