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 | |
| Locale | Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy |
| Open | 1935 |
| Close | 1975 |
| Owner(s) | Municipality of Trieste |
| Operator(s) | A.C.E.G.A.T. |
| Infrastructure | |
| Electrification | 600 V a.c. |
| Depot(s) | 2 (Broletto and San Sabba) |
History
editThe 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
edit(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
edit(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
editReferences
edit- 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