trolleybuses in Salzburg

The Salzburg trolleybus system runs through the city of Salzburg in Austria. It opened in 1940, replacing the old tramway network. Today it carries forty-one million passengers each year. Alongside the Salzburger Lokalbahn, it is operated by Salzburg AG under the name StadtBus Salzburg. The system shares the Salzburger Verkehrsverbund fare system with other public transport in the city. It forms the backbone of Salzburg’s transport network together with the Salzburg S-Bahn. The system began with a short route from Siegmundsplatz to Maxglan in 1940. Over the years it grew quickly, replacing the damaged tramway. In 2000 the trolleybus and diesel bus services were separated organisationally. Since then Salzburg AG has run trolleybus lines only, making it one of the few such companies worldwide. New sections have been added for events, such as the extension to the Salzburgarena in 2004. Other changes include electrification of former diesel routes like line 20, which became line 10 in 2009. Visitors can ride the trolleybuses on eleven lines that cover most parts of the city. The fleet now consists mainly of low-floor vehicles from manufacturers like Van Hool, Solaris and Hess. Some older high-floor buses have been preserved for special trips. The overhead wires and turning facilities are designed to handle events in the city centre. The system continues to expand, with plans for new routes in Strubergasse and Karolingerstrasse.