Bergen to shut down Norway’s only trolleybus line due to faulty infrastructure and rising costs

The Vestland County Council, in Norway, has decided to gradually shut down Bergen’s trolleybus service by 2030, putting an end to nearly a century of continuous operation, is reported on Norwegian trade media Bussmagasinet.

Faulty infrastructure for Bergen trolleybus line

The decision follows years of technical and financial troubles that emerged after the 2022 infrastructure upgrade, when the newly installed overhead network turned out to be faulty and poorly assembled by a contractor with no trolleybus experience, the media reports. The vehicles themselves — Solaris Trollino buses equipped with Škoda electric systems — performed as expected from day one. The city saw the first Solaris trolleybuses delivered in the Norwegian market, delivered in late 2020.

The trolleybus line 6, stretching from Birkelundstoppen to Lyngbø, is the only one of its kind in Norway. Operated by Keolis, the IMC (In-Motion Charging) vehicles can run up to 11 km on battery power and recharge while driving under the wires or via plug-in charging at the Mannsverk depot.

Costs for infrastructure maintenance soared beyond expectations — reportedly over NOK 250 million per year (approximately equivalent to 21.5 million euros), leading regional politicians to vote for closure.