22. Oct 2007 00:00 10. Aug 2009 10:26

Free shuttle bus from October 29th

The new free shuttle bus between Marienborg and St. Olav’s Hospital starts at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, October 29th.

10. Aug 2009 10:16 10. Aug 2009 10:16

	Called "PLUSSEN", this bus will run between the railroad station and parking at Marienborg to the hospital every 10 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Nettbuss Trøndelag and Trondheim Parkering in cooperation with the Hospital Development Project (Helsebygg) are behind this unique transportation offer, which is the first of its kind in Scandinavia.

The bus will carry all types of passengers: those parking at Marienborg, and commuters arriving both by train and by foot on their way to the hospital.

The bus will depart every 10 minutes until 4:30 p.m., but travel times may in the future be extended to 11 p.m. if there is demand for it.

At first this free shuttle route will be served by a small diesel-electric bus (see photo). As of April next year, a specially ordered, Italian, battery-driven bus will be in service with 10 seats and room for about 15 to stand.

The top speed of the vehicle is 35 km/hr. Wide doors and a low floor will enable rapid embarking and disembarking, and favorable conditions for the functionally impaired.

The following nine bus stops have been set up: Marienborg parking lot, Marienborg NSB (train stop), the Cancer Center, the former Birthing Unit, Neurology East, Laboratory Center and the Tower Building Kreftbygget, Gamle føden, Nevro øst, Laboratoriesenteret and Høyblokka.

First in Scandinavia

Nettbuss Trøndelag is a pioneer of free and environmentally friendly bus transport, says Managing Director Johan-Petter Fremstad. He believes there are possibilities for expanding the offer in this area.

Nettbuss has a three-year contract with Trondheim Parkering, with the possibility for a two-year extension.

The free bus is a component in a comprehensive parking plan for the hospital area. It will clean up today’s ”wild parking” and concentrate most possible cars in the parking garages.

By 2011 a new and larger parking facility will be built at Marienborg and an additional parking garage will be built at Øya, most likely beneath Finalebanen. The new hospital will have a total of approximately 1400 parking places.

With the new bus option known as "Plussen", Nettbuss, Trondheim Parking and the Hospital Development Project hope parking at Marienborg will become more attractive. Today there are approximately 400 parking places for hospital personnel, visitors to St. Olavs Hospital and for contractors.