It has been around for almost 86 years – the trolleybus service in Italy’s popular holiday region between Rimini and Riccione on the Adriatic coast. However, the biggest change in its history is probably just 3 ½ years ago: since October 2021, battery-powered trolleybuses in the ‘BRT design’ have been operating a completely new route that also connects the two seaside resorts, but on a separate route, separated from private transport and at some distance from the traditional route. Although this route runs through an even more densely populated area along the coast, the buses ‘swim’ with the general traffic. And this traffic is often so dense, especially during the summer months, that the journey time is considerably longer on the 11.5 km longer route, mainly due to the frequent traffic congestion. The new route runs directly alongside the existing Rimini-Ancona main railway line and, thanks to its almost complete separation from other traffic, achieves a travel speed of 26 km/h on the 9.8 km long new line, which is marketed as ‘Metromare’.
Bus Rapid Transit standard
A great deal of preparatory work was required before electric operation could finally begin on the new line – the approval process for the new buses alone took more than a year. 9 Van Hool ‘ExquiCity’ battery trolleybuses are available for operation on the fully electrified route, with electrical equipment supplied by Kiepe Electric. They have 49 kWh lithium-titanium traction batteries for journeys away from the overhead line. We reported HERE on the delivery of the first new vehicle in 2020.
4 buses are in service during when 15-minute intervals are applied, increasing to 6 buses during the 10-minute frequency on the line.
The route largely corresponds to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) standard: level-free on its own right.of-way, with stops in a modern, standardised design. There are only two access points to the route, one of which is the terminus at Riccione station, where the ExquiCity turns at a roundabout and uses the public road – the only point in the entire route. At first glance, it seems strange that around 2/3 of the route is only single-track. This is mostly due to the very narrow space between the railway line and adjacent buildings, which simply does not allow two lanes at various points. The overhead line, on the other hand, is in two lanes throughout. In practice, contrary to what one might expect, the single-lane routing in certain sections is hardly a problem, almost all stops offer passing lanes or are located on two-lane sections anyway, and the trolleybuses only rarely have to wait longer for a trolleybus travelling in the opposite direction.
The existing trolleybus line
The above-mentioned, much older trolleybus line, which since 1 July 1939 has essentially run along the seafront road along the beaches and thus directly serves the area of most restaurants, hotels and other tourist attractions, has been ‘left behind’ in all these efforts. It is between 300 and 900 metres walking to the next stop of the new METROMARE. While it was originally thought that the new BRT line could completely replace the trolleybus service on the heavily congested waterfront road, at least during the peak season, this soon turned out to be unrealistic. However, the obvious idea that the two lines are indeed complementary, as they fulfil different functions, was not very well received in practice. The frequency on line 11 has been greatly lowered, during the summer to a 17-18 minute frequency, but for most of the year only to an unattractive 35-40 minute interval. At the same time, there are signposts and information about METROMARE at all stops on line 11. The overhead line has been interrupted in three places for more than a year due to construction works, and on the section from the terminus in the historic centre of Rimini to just beyond the railway station, the overhead line and all the posts have been completely removed.
The six existing Van Hool/Kiepe Electric AG 300 T articulated trolleybuses purchased in 2009-11 have since been parked in the depot, mostly ready for operation under the overhead line section installed there. Thanks to their traction batteries, they, like METROMARE’s ExquiCity, could easily bridge missing overhead line sections. In practice, however, this does not happen, and the single-wire funnels required for smooth operation are not available in the right places. The future of line 11 is currently unclear; the few Services have been operated with diesel buses since May 2024, including second-hand Neoplan articulated diesel buses from Lausanne.
Expansions
However, there are plans to extend the METROMARE, as the new line has been well received – the undisturbed, speedy and, thanks to the electric drive, quiet journey makes the new system attractive to passengers. Construction work on a 4.2 km western extension from Rimini station to the Fiera di Rimini exhibition centre is due to start this year. An estimated EUR 49 million has been budgeted for this, the total investment for the existing line was EUR 78 million.
The route is also to be extended from Riccione to Misano and on to Cattolica. The question of future vehicle deployment remains unresolved: the ExquiCity cannot be replaced due to the insolvency of the manufacturer Van Hool, so a new model will be purchased as part of a tender process.
