Milan trolleybus system | |||
Breda 4001, no 210, at Via Tonale. | |||
Operation | |||
Locale | Milan, Lombardy, Italy | ||
Open | 28 October 1933 | ||
Routes | 4 | ||
Operator(s) | ATM | ||
Infrastructure | |||
Electrification | 550-600 V DC | ||
Depot(s) | Via Molise, Via Novara | ||
Statistics | |||
Route length | 40.4 km (25.1 mi) | ||
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Website | ATM (Italian) |
The Milan trolleybus system (Italian: Rete filoviaria di Milano) forms part of the public transport network of the city and comune of Milan, in the region of Lombardy, northern Italy. In operation since 1933, the system presently comprises four routes.
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A trolleybus system was established in Milan in 1933, with the opening of the short route 81 (Piazza Spotorno – Piazza Dergano).
In subsequent decades, the system developed rapidly, with the opening of radial and tangential routes. The new external circular route (originally CE (circolare esterna), now 90/91) was built as a trolleybus line.
In the mid-1970s, it was intended to transform the 90/91 circular route into a light rail line, and abandon the rest of the trolleybus network. Many trolleybus routes were therefore converted into bus routes, and their overhead wires were removed.
The routes that were abandoned in the 1970s and 1980s were:
In subsequent years, following the abandonment of the proposal for the 90/91 tram line, there were no more interventions on the system, except for some limited changes to the routes.
Currently, efforts are focused on reducing journey times, with the construction of dedicated lanes. Plans for the extension of the system have never climbed above the status of mere proposals.
The four routes comprising the present Milan trolleybus system are:
Milan's current trolleybus fleet is as follows:
There are presently two large trolleybus depots in Milan.
The first depot is located in Viale Molise, east of the city. This depot accommodates about 70 trolleybuses and 40 articulated trolleybuses. The second depot is in the west of the city, and more specifically in Via Novara. It hosts about 40 articulated trolleybuses.
Both depots are used not only for the storage of trolley buses, but also for diesel powered buses. In contrast with the depots used solely for diesel buses, these depots are fully covered, for the better safeguarding of the fleet.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Trolleybuses_in_Milan Trolleybuses in Milan] at Wikimedia Commons
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at March 2011.
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