Trolleybuses in Trieste

Trieste's trolleybus system was operational from 1935 until 1975.

Trieste trolleybus system
Trieste, Goldoni Square in 1951 (on the left, trolleybus "Garavini" on route A)
Operation
LocaleTrieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Open1935
Close1975
Owner(s)Municipality of Trieste
Operator(s)A.C.E.G.A.T.
Infrastructure
Electrification600 V a.c.
Depot(s)2 (Broletto and San Sabba)

History

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The first trolleybus route in Trieste, “la linea dei colli” (the hills route), was inaugurated in 1935 between the central Goldoni Square and Campo Marzio, a neighborhood in the south of the city near the new commercial port.

Before World War II., two more routes were created. In 1940 these routes were operational:

  • 4 Piazza Goldoni - Piazza Foraggi
  • 10 Piazza Ciano – San Cilino
  • 12 Piazza Goldoni - Campo Marzio

In the early 1950s, under the Allied Military Government of Free Territory of Trieste (1945-1954), the municipal transportation authority (A.C.E.G.A.T.) decided to replace the tramway with new trolleybus lines. More over, in 1952 the interurban line Trieste-Muggia began operation (Muggia is a little town just in the border with the "B Zone", at that time controlled by Yugoslavia). The line was over 6 miles long, and some of it was in a picturesque scenery next to the meridional shore of the Trieste's Gulf. The service between Trieste and Muggia until this time was operated by steamboats.

The trolleybus network began to shrink in 1958, when the night-time lines were cancelled. Even though route 21 opened in 1960, it was closed only 9 months later. In the late 1960s, the other routes were progressively being replaced by bus lines. The last trolleybus ran in Trieste in 1975 on route 19 (Stazione Centrale - Via Flavia).

Overhead wiring was dismantled between 1975 and 1982. Some vehicles were scrapped, while others were sold to the Salerno transportation authority (A.T.A.C.S.).

Routes

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(in order of opening)

Route Initial itinerary Date Opened Notes Date Closed Final itinerary
12 Piazza Goldoni - Campo Marzio 1935 Renamed "A" in 1946, renamed "15" in 1952 1968 Piazza San Giovanni - Campo Marzio
10 Piazza Ciano - San Cilino 1938 Replaced tramway "10", renamed "B" in 1946, renamed "17" in 1952 1968 Piazza della Borsa - San Cilino
4 Piazza Goldoni - Piazza Foraggi 1938 Replaced tramway "4", renamed "C" in 1946, renamed "18" in 1952 1963 Via Verdi - Via Cumano
D Portici di Chiozza - via Flavia 1949 Renamed "19" in 1952 1975 Stazione Centrale - Via Flavia
1 Stazione Centrale - Valmaura 1952 Replaced tramway "1" 1973 Stazione Centrale - Via Doda
5 Roiano - Piazza Perugino 1952 Replaced tramway "5" 1972 unchanged
10 Via Verdi - Valmaura 1954 1972 Piazza della Borsa - Valmaura
11 Piazza della Borsa - Rozzol 1952 Replaced tramway "11" 1970 unchanged
16 Piazza Goldoni - Campi Elisi 1952 1968 Piazza San Giovanni - Campi Elisi
20 Largo Barriera Vecchia - Muggia 1952 Interurban line 1972 unchanged
21 Largo Barriera Vecchia - Borgo San Sergio 1960 On duty only up to Via Flavia 1961 unchanged
33 Piazza Goldoni - Rozzol 1952 Night service only (1a.m. - 5a.m.) 1958 unchanged
34 Piazza Goldoni - Via Flavia 1952 Night service only(1a.m. - 5a.m.) 1958 unchanged
  • When day-time routes were closed, bus lines with the same number took their place

 

Trieste, Goldoni Square in the 1950s. From the left, a Alfa Romeo 800 Garavini (611-620 batch) on route 15, a tram Stanga (401-428 batch) with trailer on route 9, a tram Stanga (429-448 batch) on route 3, two Alfa Romeo 140, probably on routes 5 and 11

Fleet

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(in order of registration)

Id. no. Year Chassis Body Electric equipment Notes
601 - 605 1935 OM Miani & Silvestri Marelli 2-axles, scrapped in 1950s
606 - 610 1938 Alfa Romeo 85AF Macchi Marelli 2-axles, scrapped in 1963
611 - 620 1941 Alfa Romeo 800AF Garavini Marelli 2-axles, scrapped in 1968
701 - 707 1949 Alfa Romeo 140AF SIAI Marchetti Marelli 3-axles, 125 HP powered, max capab.103, scrapped in 1968
708, 709 1951 Fiat 672F/212 Stanga TIBB 3-axles, scrapped in 1968
710 - 727 1951 Alfa Romeo 140AF Stanga TIBB 3-axles, 156 HP powered, max capab.101, scrapped in 1973-1975, save 725 sold to Salerno in 1972
621 - 626 1952 Alfa Romeo 900AF CRDA TIBB 2-axles, 156 HP powered, sold to Salerno in 1971
728 - 758 1952-1956 Alfa Romeo 140AF CRDA TIBB 3-axles, 156 HP powered, max capab.101, some scrapped in 1975, 19 sold to Salerno in 1973

See also

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References

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  • Paolo Gregoris, Francesco Rizzoli e Claudio Serra, Giro d'Italia in filobus, Calosci, Cortona, 2003, pp. 144–149, ISBN 8877851937.
  • Roberto Carmeli, Trieste in filovia, casa editrice Danubio, Trieste.
  • I Trasporti a Trieste, Del Bianco Editore, Trieste, 1981