Trolleybuses in Rimini
Encyclopedia
The Rimini trolleybus system , also known as the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line , forms part of the public transport
network of the city and comune
of Rimini
, in the region
of Emilia-Romagna
, northern Italy
. In operation since 1939, the system links Rimini with the nearby seaside resort and comune of Riccione
.
Classified as line 11, the system passed into the control of ATAM of Rimini by 1960.
Under ATAM's management, the Rimini–Miramare part of the line was numbered 10, which is now the number used to denote the Miramare–Fiera line, operated by diesel buses. However, the reversing loop in the overhead wires that allowed trolleybus services to terminate in Miramare was recently dismantled for the construction of a roundabout. At present, the only reversing loop on the system is at the Miramare Talassoterapico roundabout at Piazzale Giardini in Riccione.
The Miramare section also previously had unique rotating lights to indicate any malfunction on the line, but this feature has also been dismantled.
In the past, all substations serving the line (excluding the new Riccione Abissinia) were equipped with mercury vapor rectifiers, which were housed in buildings with a central chimney to assist with cooling. However, the substations are now all equipped with solid state low thermal output transformers.
In 1992, ATAM was renamed TRAM, and in 2001 its name was modified again, to TRAM Servisi.
Until 2 November 1998, the Rimini terminus of line 11 was in the central Piazza Tre Martiri. On that date, following the conversion of the piazza into a pedestrian area, the terminus was moved to Piazzale San Girolamo, on Via Dante Alighieri. From 1 August 2001 the Riccione terminus, previously sited in Piazzale Giardini, was moved to the area of Riccione Terme, in Piazzale Marinai d'Italia, while the services limited to piazzale Curiel are shown as "11/".
In 2009, the trolleybus fleet was renewed: on 14 September that year, the Volvo B59 Mauri trolleybuses were taken out of service, as the USTIF had revoked their authorisations. From the following day, the trolleybus lines were temporarily operated by diesel fueled buses and articulated buses pending the completion of work to be performed on the Via Rodi underpass to allow the circulation of new Van Hool AG300T articulated trolleybuses, which entered service from June 2010. Five of these trolleybuses were purchased, with the first unit, delivered in June 2009, carrying out the line tests in the ensuing weeks.
Also beginning the same day, due to the inability of the new articulated buses to perform a U-turn in the narrow space of Piazzale San Girolamo, the terminus was moved to the nearby Piazzale Gramsci. However, the overhead wire was not extended, so the new articulated vehicles had to cover the portion of line separating the new terminal from the old one by using their auxiliary diesel engine.
On 1 June 2011, the Via Aponia–Piazzale Gramsci route was closed: since that date the terminus has been at Via Dante.
, with the city's southern coast and the city of Riccione. Also known as line 11, it is considered by Mobilità di Rimini as a "shoreline", with an urban section (at normal rate) between Rimini and Miramare and an inter-municipal section (with higher priced tickets) between Rimini and Riccione.
The critical point in the whole line is the railway underpass at the Rimini railway station. It has a tight bend and limited clearance, forcing the trolleybuses to flatten their trolley pole
s near their roofs, with the risk that the trolley poles will come off the wires (derailment).
In the section from Riccione Terme to Riccione Piazzale Curiel, the overhead wire is of a rigid type cable. From Piazzale Curiel onwards, after the reversing loop, the wire is a floating type, with Swiss-style articulated hangers to eliminate kickback movement. At Piazzale Curiel there is also an automated exchange with infrared remote control.
The line is supplied with current by the following substations: Centro (formerly an ATAM depot, now a car park), Bellariva, Riccione Alba and Riccione Abissinia.
(fleet numbers 6501-6505), the first of which entered service in June 2010.
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at September 2011.
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 Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, in the 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....
of Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
. In operation since 1939, the system links Rimini with the nearby seaside resort and comune of Riccione
Riccione
Riccione is a comune in the Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. As of 2007 Riccione had an estimated population of 34,868.-History:...
.
History
The line was established on 1 January 1939, with an initial fleet of small Fiat 635F and 656F CGE trolleybuses. Responsibility for the management of the line was entrusted to SITA of Florence until 1959.Classified as line 11, the system passed into the control of ATAM of Rimini by 1960.
Under ATAM's management, the Rimini–Miramare part of the line was numbered 10, which is now the number used to denote the Miramare–Fiera line, operated by diesel buses. However, the reversing loop in the overhead wires that allowed trolleybus services to terminate in Miramare was recently dismantled for the construction of a roundabout. At present, the only reversing loop on the system is at the Miramare Talassoterapico roundabout at Piazzale Giardini in Riccione.
The Miramare section also previously had unique rotating lights to indicate any malfunction on the line, but this feature has also been dismantled.
In the past, all substations serving the line (excluding the new Riccione Abissinia) were equipped with mercury vapor rectifiers, which were housed in buildings with a central chimney to assist with cooling. However, the substations are now all equipped with solid state low thermal output transformers.
In 1992, ATAM was renamed TRAM, and in 2001 its name was modified again, to TRAM Servisi.
Until 2 November 1998, the Rimini terminus of line 11 was in the central Piazza Tre Martiri. On that date, following the conversion of the piazza into a pedestrian area, the terminus was moved to Piazzale San Girolamo, on Via Dante Alighieri. From 1 August 2001 the Riccione terminus, previously sited in Piazzale Giardini, was moved to the area of Riccione Terme, in Piazzale Marinai d'Italia, while the services limited to piazzale Curiel are shown as "11/".
In 2009, the trolleybus fleet was renewed: on 14 September that year, the Volvo B59 Mauri trolleybuses were taken out of service, as the USTIF had revoked their authorisations. From the following day, the trolleybus lines were temporarily operated by diesel fueled buses and articulated buses pending the completion of work to be performed on the Via Rodi underpass to allow the circulation of new Van Hool AG300T articulated trolleybuses, which entered service from June 2010. Five of these trolleybuses were purchased, with the first unit, delivered in June 2009, carrying out the line tests in the ensuing weeks.
Also beginning the same day, due to the inability of the new articulated buses to perform a U-turn in the narrow space of Piazzale San Girolamo, the terminus was moved to the nearby Piazzale Gramsci. However, the overhead wire was not extended, so the new articulated vehicles had to cover the portion of line separating the new terminal from the old one by using their auxiliary diesel engine.
On 1 June 2011, the Via Aponia–Piazzale Gramsci route was closed: since that date the terminus has been at Via Dante.
Line description
Especially in summer, the Rimini-Riccione trolleybus line plays an important role, connecting the Rimini town centre, including the Rimini railway stationRimini railway station
Rimini railway station is the main station serving the city and comune of Rimini, in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. Opened in 1861, it forms part of the Bologna–Ancona railway, and is also a terminus of a secondary railway linking Rimini with Ravenna and Modena.The station is...
, with the city's southern coast and the city of Riccione. Also known as line 11, it is considered by Mobilità di Rimini as a "shoreline", with an urban section (at normal rate) between Rimini and Miramare and an inter-municipal section (with higher priced tickets) between Rimini and Riccione.
The critical point in the whole line is the railway underpass at the Rimini railway station. It has a tight bend and limited clearance, forcing the trolleybuses to flatten their trolley pole
Trolley pole
A trolley pole is a tapered cylindrical pole of wood or metal, used to transfer electricity from a "live" overhead wire to the control and propulsion equipment of a tram or trolley bus. The use of overhead wire in a system of current collection is reputed to be the 1880 invention of Frank J....
s near their roofs, with the risk that the trolley poles will come off the wires (derailment).
In the section from Riccione Terme to Riccione Piazzale Curiel, the overhead wire is of a rigid type cable. From Piazzale Curiel onwards, after the reversing loop, the wire is a floating type, with Swiss-style articulated hangers to eliminate kickback movement. At Piazzale Curiel there is also an automated exchange with infrared remote control.
The line is supplied with current by the following substations: Centro (formerly an ATAM depot, now a car park), Bellariva, Riccione Alba and Riccione Abissinia.
Retired trolleybuses
The following trolleybuses previously used in Rimini have since been withdrawn from service:- 5 Fiat 2401 Cansa nos 1011-1015, delivered 1954, withdrawn c 1978.
- 17 Volvo B59Volvo B59The Volvo B59 was a rear-engined bus chassis produced by Volvo in Sweden from 1970 until 1980, which features a 10-litre straight-6 diesel engine....
/ Mauri nos 1001-1017, delivered 1976-79, withdrawn 2002–2009.
Current fleet
Rimini's trolleybus fleet presently consists of five Van Hool AG300T articulated vehiclesArticulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
(fleet numbers 6501-6505), the first of which entered service in June 2010.
See also
- Rimini railway stationRimini railway stationRimini railway station is the main station serving the city and comune of Rimini, in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. Opened in 1861, it forms part of the Bologna–Ancona railway, and is also a terminus of a secondary railway linking Rimini with Ravenna and Modena.The station is...
- List of trolleybus systems in Italy
External links
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at September 2011.