Verona [IT] - New Trolleybus System Being Built

J. Lehmann - 19.11.12

This summer the city commission signed the contracts with the consortium of contactors who are to build the new Metrobus system. This will see the reintroduction of trolleybuses in Verona, which lies about 25km east of Lake Garda. The trolleybuses are to operate on two trunk routes which then split at each end, so that four routes will operate: routes 1a and 1b each 8 km and route 2a and 2b, which are respectively 9.5 km and 8.0 km long. The network will total 23.8 km in length. The arterial roads out of the city will be equipped with trolleybus overhead while the city centre will be free of overhead. During the 16 km runs in the outskirts the energy store can be recharged and used for the journey through the city centre, while additional energy will be generated by a Euro 6 diesel motor.

A total of about 50 stop installations are planned, at which trolleybus will be steered by electromagnetic guidance. A wheelchair-friendly access with a maximum gap of 5 cm will be offered.

The city council originally wanted to operate double articulated trolleybuses but the transport ministry declined this, so now the required 37 articulated trolleybuses have been ordered from Vossloh-Kiepe and VDL. Articulated 18m long VDL Citea trolleybuses with a capacity of 140 passengers have been chosen.

The completion target is ambitious: the trolleybuses should be operational on the new network by 2015, according to the press release from Vossloh-Kiepe dated 15.11.12.

Translation: Martin Wright

Photos:
From the film by the consortium of contractors, see the link for "more information".