Present and future prospects for trolleybuses in Italy

After a short historical preliminary remark, this paper describes trolleybus networks currently in service in Italy and modern vehicles characteristics. The plans of development started in several Italian cities and the technical evolution of vehicles are subsequently examined. Dual-mode trolleybuses, able to run without contact wires, and low-floor vehicles are the most representative steps in technical evolution. In the future trolleybus tests are foreseen to collect from a conductor installed in the road rather than an overhead contact wire. At last, in view of environmental constraints on historical areas in Italian cities, this paper discusses the role of trolleybuses will have in public urban and suburban transport in Italy.