Trolleybuses in Trieste


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

History

The first trolleybus route in Trieste, “la linea dei colli”, 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, the municipal transportation authority decided to replace the tramway with new trolleybus lines. More over, in 1952 the interurban line Trieste-Muggia began operation. 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.
Overhead wiring was dismantled between 1975 and 1982. Some vehicles were scrapped, while others were sold to the Salerno transportation authority.

Routes

RouteInitial itineraryDate OpenedNotesDate ClosedFinal itinerary
12Piazza Goldoni - Campo Marzio1935Renamed "A" in 1946, renamed "15" in 19521968Piazza San Giovanni - Campo Marzio
10Piazza Ciano - San Cilino1938Replaced tramway "10", renamed "B" in 1946, renamed "17" in 19521968Piazza della Borsa - San Cilino
4Piazza Goldoni - Piazza Foraggi1938Replaced tramway "4", renamed "C" in 1946, renamed "18" in 19521963Via Verdi - Via Cumano
DPortici di Chiozza - via Flavia1949Renamed "19" in 19521975Stazione Centrale - Via Flavia
1Stazione Centrale - Valmaura1952Replaced tramway "1"1973Stazione Centrale - Via Doda
5Roiano - Piazza Perugino1952Replaced tramway "5"1972unchanged
10Via Verdi - Valmaura19541972Piazza della Borsa - Valmaura
11Piazza della Borsa - Rozzol1952Replaced tramway "11"1970unchanged
16Piazza Goldoni - Campi Elisi19521968Piazza San Giovanni - Campi Elisi
20Largo Barriera Vecchia - Muggia1952Interurban line1972unchanged
21Largo Barriera Vecchia - Borgo San Sergio1960On duty only up to Via Flavia1961unchanged
33Piazza Goldoni - Rozzol1952Night service only 1958unchanged
34Piazza Goldoni - Via Flavia1952Night service only1958unchanged

  • When day-time routes were closed, bus lines with the same number took their place
''Trieste, Goldoni Square in the 1950s. From the left, an Alfa Romeo 800 Garavini on route 15, a tram Stanga with trailer on route 9, a tram Stanga on route 3, two Alfa Romeo 140, probably on routes 5 and 11''

Fleet

Id. no.YearChassisBodyElectric equipmentNotes
601 - 6051935OMMiani & SilvestriMarelli2-axles, scrapped in 1950s
606 - 6101938Alfa Romeo 85AFMacchiMarelli2-axles, scrapped in 1963
611 - 6201941Alfa Romeo 800AFGaraviniMarelli2-axles, scrapped in 1968
701 - 7071949Alfa Romeo 140AFSIAI MarchettiMarelli3-axles, 125 HP powered, max capab.103, scrapped in 1968
708, 7091951Fiat 672F/212StangaTIBB3-axles, scrapped in 1968
710 - 7271951Alfa Romeo 140AFStangaTIBB3-axles, 156 HP powered, max capab.101, scrapped in 1973-1975, save 725 sold to Salerno in 1972
621 - 6261952Alfa Romeo 900AFCRDATIBB2-axles, 156 HP powered, sold to Salerno in 1971
728 - 7581952-1956Alfa Romeo 140AFCRDATIBB3-axles, 156 HP powered, max capab.101, some scrapped in 1975, 19 sold to Salerno in 1973