Parma - the "all electric" city
Many years some of the trolleybus lines were operated by motorbuses for long periods but since 2021 all 4 trolleybus lines (1,3,4,5) are all electric operated. Working in the historic center with it`s narrow streets as well in the...
Parma - the "all electric" city
Parma, the Italien university city is not only famous for it`s cheese, ham and the gothik cathedral, but also for it`s trolleybus system, opened in 1953. In the last 50 years it sometimes seemed that it will decline but it recovered.
Many years some of the trolleybus lines were operated by motorbuses for long periods but since 2021 all 4 trolleybus lines (1,3,4,5) are all electric operated. Working in the historic center with it`s narrow streets as well in the modern suburbs trolleybuses perform very well with a rather modern fleet consisting of:
· 14 Gräf& Stift/Autodromo/Kiepe from 1997/2000
· 9 VanHool/Kiepe from 2012
· 10 Solaris/Kiepe from 2020/21
Menarini trolleybuses can not be seen any longer in regualar service. Linie 1 at both ends was extended at both ends by using the batteries of the new Solaris/Kiepe fleet. Today trolleybuses are part of livestyle in this trendy Italien city.
New 5056 (Solaris/Kiepe) on line 3 followed by 046 (Gräf& Stift/Autodromo/Kiepe) on line 4 in Str.Massimo D.Azeglio. Trolleybus 046 (Gräf&Stift/Kiepe) on line 4 in front of Santissima Annunziata church. Stylish VanHool/Kiepe 5103 working on line 5 (the only line worked with articulated trolleybuses) in Str.Massimo D.Azeglio.
New 5063 (Solaris/Kiepe) on line 1 stops in front of former interurban tram station at Piazzale Tomaso Barbieri. Trolleybus 053 on line 3 followed by 044 of the same type on line 4 on Str.della Republica. Trolleybus 048 on line 4 in Via Emilia Est.
Articulated trolleybus 5109 on line 5 at Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi – the span wires are not easy to see. Articulated trolleybus 5105 on line 5 in front of Palazzo del Governatore.
New 5058 on line 1 in front of Palazzo della Pilotta. New 5061 meets 5064 (both Solaris/Kiepe; 2021) working on line 1 in Str.G.Garibaldi. New 5064 on line 1 turing from Str.G.Garibaldi into Giuseppe Mazzini street – where lines 3,4 and 5 work too.
Photos: Gunter Mackinger 9. June 2022
Oberleitungsbus Parma – Wikipedia
Der Oberleitungsbus Parma ist ein im Jahr 1953 eröffnetes und aktuell aus vier Linien bestehendes O-Bussystem in der italienischen Provinzhauptstadt Parma, und neben Bologna, Modena und Rimini eins von vier noch bestehenden Systemen dieser Art in der Region Emilia-Romagna, welche damit die meisten aktiven O-Busnetze des Landes auf sich vereint. Betreiber ist die Tranvie Elettriche Parmensi (TEP).
Three trolleybuses delivered in Parma (Italy) from Solaris
Parma Trolleybuses Sept 2010