
Many had probably already given up hope, but now the time has finally come: as of today – 1 February 2025 – the famous funicular tram from Trieste to Opcina is running again!
This tramway, which is unique in the world in its current form, is a 5.1 km long, metre-gauge tram line that includes an 800 metre long inclined section. Here, the electric tramcars are transported up and down by a push trolley, also known as a ‘cable tractor’, using the funicular railway principle, to overcome the difference in height of approximately 325 metres. This has been the case since 1928; previously, this section had been operated by rack railway since it opened in 1902. Before and after the inclined section, the electric vehicles operate conventionally as trams.

Following a collision between two trains in August 2016, the railway was taken out of service for modernisation, but despite promised funding, the work was delayed again and again. The first test runs did not begin until 2022, and now the long wait is finally over:
The railway has been open to passengers again since 1 February 2025. The number of journeys is being continuously increased. In the first two weeks, 19 departures with just one tramcar will be offered daily, increasing to 39 departures with two tramcars from 17 February 2025 and finally 58 departures with three vehicles on 3 March 2025.


By then, several of the four-axle trams 401-407 (without 403) built in 1935 and 1942 by Stanga/TIBB will be fully operational again. Tramcar 1 as remainder of the original fleet from 1902 is also still available, but cannot be used for normal passenger transport.
The urban terminus at Piazza Oberdan, which was in service until 2016, is currently no longer served; the trams terminate 100 metres earlier at Piazza Dalmazia.




