First Hess trolleybuses (out of 39) delivered for Verona’s long-awaited trolleybus system

The first two Hess trolleybuses for Verona’s new rapid transit line have been delivered, marking the initial step toward service launch expected in autumn.

The vehicles are part of a contract for 39 Hess trolleybuses, which will constitute the fleet of Verona’s new trolleybus-based rapid transit system at full deployment. The first two units have now arrived, while four more vehicles are expected by the end of June. Deliveries will continue throughout the year as the city prepares for the start of commercial operations planned for autumn.

The arrival of the 18-metre articulated vehicles represents a key milestone in the rollout of Verona’s long-planned trolleybus system, managed by AMT3.

Hess trolleybuses land in Verona, finally

The two units delivered are the first of a series scheduled to enter the Verona network in the coming months. According to the operator, four additional vehicles are expected by the end of June.

Testing activities are set to begin in the coming weeks along the line infrastructure. These will include validation of vehicle performance, overhead electrification systems, and onboard technologies. The commissioning phase will extend through the summer, with operational readiness targeted for October, when passenger service is planned to commence.

The vehicles are manufactured by Hess and fall within the high-capacity articulated trolleybus segment. The units are configured to accommodate passenger volumes exceeding 140 people per vehicle, positioning them within the upper range of capacity for trolleybus systems currently deployed in Italy.

The deployment of the trolleybuses is aligned with the substantial completion of the hybrid line infrastructure. The system combines electrified sections with off-wire capability, enabling operational flexibility across the route.

Parallel to vehicle delivery and infrastructure testing, workforce preparation is ongoing. Six drivers from ATV are currently completing training programs and are scheduled to undertake certification exams for trolleybus operation in mid-June. These activities are part of the broader operational readiness process required ahead of service entry.

The project has been included among those financed under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), specifically within the framework dedicated to mass rapid transit development. This positioning places the Verona trolleybus system within the national pipeline of urban transport modernization initiatives.

“We are extremely pleased to have reached this important milestone, which the city of Verona has been awaiting for years. The arrival of the new trolleybuses is the result of a complex process made possible in part by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport’s recognition of the project’s strategic value, which included it among the initiatives funded by the NRRP for Rapid Mass Public Transport, in line with European sustainable mobility objectives. Today, thanks to the substantial completion of the hybrid line, we can finally provide the city with innovative, high-capacity vehicles: these are the first trolleybuses in Italy capable of carrying over 150 passengers, a factor that will contribute significantly to improving the efficiency and appeal of urban public transport,” said Calogero Taibi, CEO of the newly-founded Hess Italia.