Buses with power from above? What trolleybuses really are!

Technically, a trolleybus is powered by electric motors and guided like a bus using steering. It is not rail-bound, yet it is not completely free either, as it must remain under the overhead lines. This creates a unique position between buses and rail vehicles, with characteristics of both worlds.

Trolleybuses have a long history. Early systems appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, and by the mid-20th century hundreds of networks existed worldwide. While many of them were later shut down, trolleybuses never vanished completely. By the end of 2024, 257 trolleybus systems were still operating across 45 countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, China, Italy and Switzerland.

In Germany, trolleybuses are now rare but still present. Only three cities operate them today: Eberswalde, Esslingen am Neckar and Solingen. Eberswalde hosts the oldest active trolleybus system in the country, dating back to 1940. Esslingen operates a smaller network, partly relying on vehicles with auxiliary batteries. Solingen runs the largest trolleybus system in Germany, where it plays a central role in daily public transport.

One major advantage of trolleybuses is their continuous power supply. There is no need for charging breaks and no large batteries onboard. At the same time, overhead infrastructure requires maintenance and limits route flexibility. This makes trolleybuses a frequent topic of debate, especially when compared to modern battery-electric buses.

In the end, trolleybuses represent a distinct approach to electric public transport. They show that electrification does not always require batteries, but they also demand long-term infrastructure commitments. Whether they still make sense today depends largely on local conditions and priorities.

Have you ever used a trolleybus? Do you find overhead wires visually disturbing?

_{(C) Karlo at Wikipedia under the license Gemeinfrei}