The Ancona trolleybus

Trolleybus

A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...

 system forms part of the public transport

Public transport

Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...

 network of the city and comune

Comune

In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...

of Ancona

Ancona

Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....

, in the Marche

Marche

The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...

 region

Regions of Italy

The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....

, central Italy

Central Italy

Central Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency...

. In operation since 1949, the system presently comprises only one urban route.

Services

The route comprising the present Ancona trolleybus system is:

• 1/4 Piazza IV Novembre - Tavernelle

This is an amalgamation of the previous lines 1 and 4. The amalgamated line has the following itinerary: viale della Vittoria, piazza Cavour, piazza Roma, Archi, Ancona railway station

Ancona railway station

Ancona railway station, sometimes named Ancona Centrale, is the main railway station of the Italian city of Ancona, in the Marche. It is the most important station of its region and is owned by the Ferrovie dello Stato, the national rail company of Italy.-History:The station was opened on 17...

, viale Giordano Bruno, piazza Ugo Bassi, via Torresi, Tavernelle (terminus).

Retired trolleybuses

The following now retired trolleybuses have been used in Ancona:

• Fiat 668 F/110 (12 trolleybuses, Stanga bodies, nos 1-12), served from 1949-50 to 1983;
• Fiat 668 F/110 (4 trolleybuses, Stanga bodies, nos 13-16), served from 1952-53 to 1983;
• Fiat 2401 (5 trolleybuses, Cansa bodies, nos 17-21), served from 1956-57 to 1987.

Current fleet

Ancona's present trolleybus fleet is made up of only the following two types:

• Menarini F201/2LU (6 trolleybuses, nos 1-6), entered service 1983; rebuilt 2001 with electrical equipment by Albiero & Bocca; nos 2, 5 and 6 withdrawn due to failure;
• Menarini F201/2LU (3 trolleybuses, nos 7-9), entered service 1987; rebuilt 2001 with electrical equipment by Albiero & Bocca; no 9 out of service due to failure.

Projects

For 2011, there are plans for the restructuring of the network by raising the voltage to 750 V, the consequent adjustment of the electrical substation

Electrical substation

A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...

, the construction of a new line on the Via Torresi, and the replacement of the existing fleet with a new fleet of four 18 metre articulated trolleybuses, for which tenders have been called.

External links

• Images of the Ancona trolleybus system, at railfaneurope.net
• Images of the Ancona trolleybus system, at photorail.com

This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at July 2011.