Modena trolleybus

Modena trolleybus
A Socimi is paused at the Zodiaco terminus on line 11
Basic information
Country	Italy
city	Modena
opening	October 21, 1950
operator	Società Emiliana Trasporti Autofiloviari
Infrastructure
Route length	21 kilometers
Power system	750 V DC
Depots	Sant'Anna
business
Lines	three
vehicles	27 (17 solo and 10 articulated vehicles)
Current route network

The Modena trolleybus, which went into operation in 1950, is a three- line trolleybus system in the Italian provincial capital of Modena , operated by Società Emiliana Trasporti Autofiloviari (SETA) . In addition to Rimini and the neighboring networks of Bologna and Parma , it is one of four still existing systems of its kind in the Emilia-Romagna region , which thus has the most active trolleybus networks in the country.

Line network

The trolleybus network in Modena currently consists of three diameter lines (as of July 2013):

line	route	Clock HVZ / NVZ	Cycle summer
6th	Via Santi - Barriera Sant'Agostino - Piazza Risorgimento - Via Chinnici	12/20 minutes	20 minutes
7th	Viale Gramsci - Stazione FS - Barriera Sant'Agostino - Via Gottardi	10/12 minutes	15 minutes
11	Sant'Anna - Stazione FS - Piazza Risorgimento - Viale dello Zodiaco	10/12 minutes	20 minutes

The catenary crossing in front of the Chiesa del Voto forms the central point of the trolleybus network

The central point of the network is the intersection of Via Emilia and Corso Duomo in front of the Chiesa del Voto , not far from Modena Cathedral . The catenary crossing there is used by all lines during normal operation. A special feature right next to the west facade of the cathedral is a traffic light-controlled house passage through which lines 6 and 11 pass.

The Line 6 starts in the northwest of the city where a block loop through the Via Antonio Cesari and Via Filippo Paolucci is turned. In the Via Santi Venceslao , the last stop is. The junction of the turning loop is then reached again via Via Cesare Costa. From here the route leads over Via Paolo Ruffini , Via Cristoforo Galaverna into town . By Viale Monte Kosica is bus station Autostazione Modena tied before the line over the Largo Aldo Moro , the Via Emilia reached. Past the cathedral, Corso Canal Chiaro crosses the southern city center. At Piazzale Risorgimento Italiano , line 11 branches off the shared inner-city route. Line 6 runs through Viale Carlo Sigonio to Viale Buon Pastore and out of the city on Via Fratelli Rosselli . On the southern outskirts of the city, the Wendeschleife in the new development area on Via Rocco Chinnici is reached via Via Forli .

The starting point for line 7 is Via Rocco Chinnici in the north of the city. The final stop is at the northern end of the spacious avenue on which the route runs towards the city center. On the Strada Canaletto Centro , line 11 crosses the eastern tracks of the station before the forecourt is reached by a short branch ride through Viale Francesco Crispi . Line 7 runs over Via Monte Kosica to the bus station, where it meets the trolleybus line 6. The center is then crossed on Via Emilia . At Lago Garibaldi , the route leaves the city center and follows Via Emilia Est . From Via del Pozzo , the route branches off to the area of ​​the Polyclinic, which is crossed on a bus lane before the line reaches Via Giuseppe Campi . Passing the eastern campus of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Via Alfredo Braghiroli leads to the turning loop at the roundabout in Via G. Gottardi . The eastern terminus is at the parking lot of the Faculty of Engineering .

The line 11 starts northwest of the center in Sant'Anna. Immediately after turning into Via delle Suore , you will pass the depot entrance. By Via Arturo Anderlini (into town) and Via Don Elio Monari (town), the driving lines run directionally before the dash back to the Via delle Suore returns. At Via Canaletto Centro , the route meets the trolleybus line 7, with which it connects to the station with a branch. While line 7 branches off to the bus station, initially circling the old town to the north, line 11 returns to Piazza Bruni , the starting point of the branch-off journey, from here to the center. For this purpose, the overhead lines run over Corso Vittorio Emanuele II . At its end, the Palazzo Ducale is circled on its west side, which today houses the traditional Accademia Militare di Modena . Via Piazza Roma , Via Accademia Militare and Corso Canal Grande , the route reaches the central area of ​​the trolleybus network on Via Emilia . From here it follows line 6 through the southern city center, before leaving the common overhead lines south of Piazzale Risorgimento Italiano . Line 11 runs from here on Via Pietro Giardini out of town and then branches off into Via Carlo Forlanini . The southern terminus in Via Zodiaco is reached via Strada Comunale Luzzo .

On Saturday afternoons and on Sundays and public holidays, lines 7 and 11 run as 7A and 11A with interchanged routes in the city center so that a bus-free pedestrian zone can be offered on the main shopping street Via Emilia in the center of the city . Line 11 uses the western route normally used by Line 7 via the Autostazione between the train station and the city center , while Line 7 runs directly east on the route used by Line 11 during the week via Piazza Roma . The overlapping of the two lines in the central section of Via Emilia is therefore no longer necessary.

history

Development of the trolleybus network in Modena from 1950 to 2001

Introduction of the trolleybus

In 1949, the Modenas local government decided to introduce the trolleybus in the city to replace the aging tram system. The first two lines started operating on January 22, 1950 between Crocetta and San Faustino (line 3) and between Buon Pastore and San Cataldo (line 5). On October 21st, three more routes went into operation, including lines 1 and 2, which connected the state train station in the north with the Stazione Ferrovie Provinciali on Piazza Manzoni in the south of the city. The southern part was laid out as a ring and served by line 1 clockwise and line 2 counterclockwise. Line 4 from Madonnina to San Lazzaro also went into operation on Via Emilia , which traverses the city in a straight line from northwest to southeast .

In 1952, after just two years of operation, some adjustments to the route and catenary network were necessary. Line 5 was relocated to the provincial train station in the south, for which a new catenary section was created in Viale Carlo Sigonio . The outer branch to Buon Pastore that became free as a result was taken over by a newly introduced diameter line 6, which also took over the north branch of Crocetta from line 3, which ended at the state train station.

expansion

On September 30, 1957, a new line 7 went into operation, which led from the Piazza della Torre via Via Farini to the new Sacca district north of the Milan – Bologna railway line . However, it only ran electrically for a little over a year, then the line was extended to Madonnina . At this point in time, the city did not have the financial means to build a contact line, so that diesel was used until 1959.

On December 8, 1963, line 6 was finally extended to the Sacca district , while line 4 was "temporarily" suspended on June 14, 1965 for the construction of the Crocetta flyover. Originally it was planned to extend the route to Crocetta after the construction work was completed , but this did not materialize. Instead, line 4 was expanded on July 24, 1965 to create the new municipal hospital, while the catenary system on the Crocetta branch remained closed and was finally removed at the beginning of June 1966. The hospital was later operated by a new line 7, which was led at the other end via Largo Porta Sant'Agostino to the state train station. This also ceased the overhead line operation on the western branch of line 4 to Madonnina .

In the south, line 6 was extended from Buon Pastore to Via Conco on October 2, 1967 , for which, among other things, a crossing of the SEFTA railway line was necessary.

decline

In the following years, some route adjustments shaped the network. Due to the closure of several regional train lines around Modena and the associated loss of importance of the provincial train station in Piazza Manzoni , trolleybus routes 1 and 2 were discontinued on August 21, 1968. On the same day the operation of line 3 between San Faustino and San Lazarro was switched to buses.

On October 2, 1972, line 5 was also closed on the pretext of creating a one-way street in Viale Fabrizi . In addition to serving the San Cataldo branch, this also ended the operation of the last trolleybus line leading to the regional train station.

Austerity

The decline in the network was ended by what is known as austerity . The increasing scarcity of fuel for private transport due to the oil crisis and a newly won environmental awareness made it necessary to improve the public transport offer. In order to avoid overloading the city center with bus traffic, all diesel bus lines were banned from the ring roads, so that from now on only the two remaining north-south and east-west lines of the trolleybus network should cross the center. In order to maintain the necessary capacities, two high-frequency shuttle lines EO (east-west) and NS (north-south) were set up within the city ring. However, the limited availability of vehicles made it necessary to temporarily suspend line 6, whereas line 7 between the state train station and the clinic continued to operate electrically. The network reform came into force on October 1, 1973.

In 1986 the trolleybus fleet was renewed with delivery of the 14 Socimi 8883. Here, car 19 has reached the station forecourt on line 7

Even after the end of the crisis years, efforts were made to ensure the high frequency of the trolleybus routes. The shuttles were discontinued in favor of the reintroduction of lines 6 and 7, with line 6 being mixed with buses. The trolleybus circuits on the shortened route were referred to as 6-Barrato (marked with 6 / ).

A total of 14 new Socimi trolleybuses went into operation in 1986 for the renewal of the fleet. However, the aging of the network meant that the use of trolleybuses decreased more and more. In 1993, the operation of line 6 was completely converted to buses, so that from then on only line 7 was operated electrically.

Husler plan

With the implementation of the "Piano Husler" (named after the Swiss engineer Willi Husler), the fundamental renewal of the trolleybus system began in the mid-1990s. Measures included upgrading the overhead contact line for operation at higher speeds and increasing the traction current from 600 to 750 volts direct current . The renovation work on the infrastructure and the adaptation of the vehicles made it necessary to suspend trolleybus operations from October 1995 to May 2000.

On the occasion of the reopening of the trolleybus system, the Autodromo BusOtto articulated trolleybus number 25 is ceremoniously decorated on May 13th, 2000 on the Largo Garibaldi

In addition to the expansion of the infrastructure, new vehicles were procured at the same time, with low-floor articulated trolleybuses being ordered for the first time with the ten BusOttos from the Modena-based company Autodromo. The first of on a MAN - chassis built car with Adtranz - Electrical was delivered in the spring 1999th

In addition, the following network expansions, reactivations and relocations were planned:

• Autostazione - Via Santi
• Via Conco - Via Forli
• Viale Berengario
• Corso Canal Grande instead of Via Farini
• Sacca flyover - Viale Gramsci
• Sacca - Sant'Anna
• Piazzale Risorgimento - Viale dello Zodiaco

On May 13, 2000, operations on the upgraded Line 7 were ceremoniously resumed with the commissioning of the BusOttos, the first line trips with the articulated vehicles then took place two days later. Line 6 was reopened on November 13, 2000 between Sant'Anna and Via Forli with the revised Socimi solo car. As a last measure, trolleybus operation was introduced on June 11, 2001 on line 11, which had previously been served conventionally. At the same time, the network was restructured as follows:

• Line 6: Via Santi - Viale Berengario - Piazza Roma (Accademia) - Via Forlì
• Line 7: Via Gramsci - Stazione FS - Autostazione - Policlinico
• Line 11: Sant'Anna - Stazione FS - Autostazione - Viale dello Zodiaco

Current developments

On July 2, 2007, another extension of line 7 in the east of the city from the hospital ( Policlinico ) to Via Gottardi to the east went into operation. The route initially runs on a private road through the middle of the clinic area, which is only reserved for hospital and regular traffic, and then through the university district to the east.

Starting in 2008, the fleet of vehicles was rejuvenated with the delivery of initially five and later two additional N6216 Electroliners from Neoplan and Viseon with Kiepe -Elektrik.

As a result of restructuring, the new company Emiliana Società Trasporti SpA Autofiloviari (SETA) emerged on January 1, 2012 from the previous operating company Azienda Trasporti e Collettivi Mobilita (ATCM ) .

In spring 2012, an approximately 250-meter-long extension at the southern end of line 6 from Via Forli to Via Chinnici was put into operation in order to develop a new residential area.

depot

The depot is located in Sant'Anna in the immediate vicinity of the north-western end of the trolleybus line 11. In addition to trolleybuses, diesel buses are also located here. The administration buildings and workshops are also located on the site.

vehicles

An articulated trolleybus manufactured by MAN and Autodromo is on its first day on route 7

Interior of an Autodromo articulated trolleybus

Car 33 manufactured by Fiat and Cansa has been preserved as a historic vehicle in Modena to this day

Current fleet

There are currently 17 solo cars and 10 articulated trains available.

Numbers	piece	Manufacturer	Electrics	Type	Art	Construction year	annotation
11-24	10	Iveco / Socimi	Albiero	8883	Solo car	1986	11, 14, 15, 16 retired
25-34	10	MAN-Bassotto / Autodromo	Adtranz - Kiepe	BusOtto	Articulated trolley	2000	low-floor
01-05	05	Neoplan	Vossloh Kiepe	Electroliner N6216	Solo car	2008-2009	low-floor
06-07	02	Viseon bus	Vossloh Kiepe	Electroliner N6216	Solo car	2012	low-floor

The last two Electroliner from an option exercised later were completed by Viseon after it took over Neoplan bus production.

Former fleet

The following vehicle series have now been taken out of service:

Numbers	piece	Manufacturer	Electrics	Type	Construction year	End of use	annotation
11-14	04th	Fiat / Cansa	CGE	2 668 / F 122	1953		originally intended for Catania
15-26	12	Fiat / Cansa	Marelli	668 / F 131	1949-1950	1972
27-28	02	Fiat / Cansa	Marelli	2401	1953	1967
29-34	06th	Fiat / Cansa	CGE	2411	1959	1986	Car 33 received as a museum vehicle
35-41	06th	Fiat / Menarini	Marelli	2411	1964	1986	Car 37 at the Museo Nazionale dei Trasporti
29-34	06th	Fiat / Cansa	CGE	2411	1974	1986	taken over from Livorno (there 61, 62, 63 and 65)

Web links

Commons : Modena trolleybus  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Operator's website ATCM (Italian)
• Information on the Modena trolleybus on Trolleymotion

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Jürgen Lehmann: Electric again, but now in the summer timetable!  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Trolleymotion  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on June 10, 2013.    
2. ↑ Jürgen Lehmann: Operation on three lines, even on Sundays ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Trolleymotion on April 21, 2014.