Trolleybus Usage by Country 2025

Country
Trolleybus Usage Category↓
Trolleybus Usage Cities
Additional Trolleybus Usage Details
Indonesia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Pakistan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Nigeria4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bangladesh4 - Never had trolleybus networks
DR Congo4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Thailand4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Tanzania4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Kenya4 - Never had trolleybus networks
South Korea4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Sudan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Uganda4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Iraq4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Yemen4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Angola4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Morocco4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Mozambique4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Ghana4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Madagascar4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Ivory Coast4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cameroon4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Nepal4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Niger4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Syria4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Mali4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Burkina Faso4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Sri Lanka4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Taiwan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Malawi4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Zambia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Chad4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Somalia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Senegal4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Guatemala4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cambodia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Zimbabwe4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Benin4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Rwanda4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Burundi4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bolivia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Tunisia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
South Sudan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Haiti4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Jordan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Dominican Republic4 - Never had trolleybus networks
United Arab Emirates4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Honduras4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cuba4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Papua New Guinea4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Togo4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Israel4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Sierra Leone4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Laos4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Libya4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Hong Kong4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Paraguay4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Nicaragua4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Republic of the Congo4 - Never had trolleybus networks
El Salvador4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Singapore4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Lebanon4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Liberia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Palestine4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Central African Republic4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Oman4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Mauritania4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Ireland4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Costa Rica4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Kuwait4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Panama4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Eritrea4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Puerto Rico4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Qatar4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Namibia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Jamaica4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Gambia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Albania4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Gabon4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Botswana4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Lesotho4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Guinea-Bissau4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Equatorial Guinea4 - Never had trolleybus networks
North Macedonia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bahrain4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Timor-Leste4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cyprus4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Mauritius4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Eswatini4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Djibouti4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Fiji4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Comoros4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Reunion4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Solomon Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Guyana4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bhutan4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Macau4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Luxembourg4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Suriname4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Montenegro4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Western Sahara4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Malta4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Maldives4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cape Verde4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Brunei4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Belize4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bahamas4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Iceland4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Guadeloupe4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Martinique4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Mayotte4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Vanuatu4 - Never had trolleybus networks
French Guiana4 - Never had trolleybus networks
New Caledonia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Barbados4 - Never had trolleybus networks
French Polynesia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Sao Tome and Principe4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Samoa4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Curacao4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Saint Lucia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Guam4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Kiribati4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Seychelles4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Grenada4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Micronesia4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Aruba4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Tonga4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Antigua and Barbuda4 - Never had trolleybus networks
United States Virgin Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Isle of Man4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Andorra4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cayman Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Dominica4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Bermuda4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Faroe Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Greenland4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Saint Kitts and Nevis4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Turks and Caicos Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
American Samoa4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Sint Maarten4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Northern Mariana Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Liechtenstein4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Gibraltar4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Monaco4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Marshall Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
San Marino4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Saint Martin4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Palau4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Anguilla4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Cook Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Nauru4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Saint Barthelemy4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Wallis and Futuna4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Tuvalu4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Saint Pierre and Miquelon4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Montserrat4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Falkland Islands4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Tokelau4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Niue4 - Never had trolleybus networks
Vatican City4 - Never had trolleybus networks
India3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Egypt3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Philippines3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Vietnam3 - Had trolleybus networks before
United Kingdom3 - Had trolleybus networks before
South Africa3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Myanmar3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Colombia3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Bogotá (1948–1991)
  • Medellín (1929–1951)
Historical (No longer in operation)
Algeria3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Malaysia3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Peru3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Lima (1928–1931)
Historical (No longer in operation, converted into trams)
Australia3 - Had trolleybus networks before
Azerbaijan3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Baku
  • Ganja
  • Mingachevir
  • Nakhchivan
  • Sumqayit
Systems existed in five cities, all closed in the 2000s
Denmark3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Gentofte (suburb of Copenhagen)
  • Odense
Trolleybuses were in operation in Gentofte (1927–1963) and Odense (1939–1959).
Finland3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Helsinki
  • Tampere
Both cities had trolleybus systems in the past. Helsinki is considering restoring trolleybus services.
Uruguay3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Montevideo
Historical (No longer in operation)
Trinidad and Tobago3 - Had trolleybus networks before
  • Port of Spain (1941–1956)
Historical (No longer in operation)
China2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
United States2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Boston
  • Dayton
  • Philadelphia
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • various museums
Boston: Operational, Philadelphia: Operational, San Francisco: Operational, Seattle: Operational, Dayton: Operational, Various Museums: Preservation
Brazil2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Santos
  • São Paulo
Operational (Separate systems in São Paulo and Santos)
Russia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Nizhny Novgorod
  • Saint Petersburg
  • 80+ additional cities
Trolleybus systems operate in various cities, including an interurban network in Crimea.
Mexico2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Mexico City
Operational
Japan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Iran2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Turkey2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Ankara
  • Istanbul
  • Izmir
  • Malatya
  • Sanliurfa
Trolleybuses operated in Ankara (1947-1986), Istanbul (1960s-1984), and Izmir (closed in 1992). New systems in Malatya (opened in 2015) and Sanliurfa (opened in 2023)
Germany2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Eberswalde
  • Esslingen
  • Solingen
Three cities have operational trolleybus systems.
France2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Limoges
  • Lyon
  • Nancy
  • Saint-Étienne
Trolleybuses are in use, and preserved trolleybuses are at the Musée des Transports (AMTUIR) in Colombes.
Italy2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Bologna
  • Milan
  • Rome
  • Multiple additional cities
Various cities have operational trolleybus systems. New systems are under construction or planned.
Spain2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Castellón de la Plana
Castellón de la Plana has a new system since 2008. Trolleybuses operated in various Spanish cities in the past.
Argentina2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Bahía Blanca
  • Buenos Aires
  • Córdoba
  • La Plata
  • Mar del Plata
  • Mendoza
  • Rosario
  • Tucumán
Operational (In various cities including Mendoza, Rosario, Córdoba)
Canada2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Laval
  • Montréal
  • Vancouver
Vancouver: Operational, Laval: Under Consideration, Montréal: Under Consideration
Ukraine2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Kharkiv
  • Kyiv
  • Lviv
  • Odesa
  • multiple additional cities (40+ in total)
Trolleybus systems operate in various cities, including the world's longest route in Crimea.
Poland2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Gdynia
  • Lublin
  • Tychy
Three cities have operational trolleybus systems.
Uzbekistan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Saudi Arabia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Venezuela2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Caracas (1937–1949)
  • Mérida (2007–2016)
  • Valencia (1941–1947)
Historical (No longer in operation)
North Korea2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Kazakhstan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Chile2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Valparaíso
Operational
Romania2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Bucharest
  • Cluj
  • Iași
  • Timișoara
  • multiple additional cities
Several cities have operational trolleybus systems. Timișoara's system was built with Italian equipment.
Netherlands2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Arnhem
  • Groningen
  • Nijmegen
Trolleybuses were in use in the past; Arnhem's system is still operational.
Ecuador2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Quito
Operational
Belgium2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • No operational systems
Trolleybuses operated in the past in Antwerp, Brussels, Liège, and Ghent. Ghent's system closed in 2009.
Tajikistan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Sweden2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Landskrona
Landskrona has a small operational system.
Czech Republic2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Multiple cities
14 operational trolleybus systems.
Portugal2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Braga (past)
  • Coimbra
  • Porto (past)
Trolleybuses are operated in Coimbra. Braga and Porto had trolleybuses in the past.
Greece2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Athens
Athens has one of the largest trolleybus networks in Europe with 354 vehicles.
Hungary2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Budapest
  • Debrecen
  • Szeged
Trolleybuses are in use in three cities.
Austria2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Innsbruck
  • Kapfenberg
  • Linz
  • Salzburg
Salzburg has the largest system; Innsbruck's system closed in 2007 due to the expected light rail expansion.
Belarus2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Babruysk
  • Brest
  • Gomel
  • Grodno
  • Minsk
  • Mogilev
  • Vitebsk
Minsk has the world's largest trolleybus system. Other cities also have operational systems.
Switzerland2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Geneva
  • Lausanne
  • Lucerne
  • multiple additional cities
Several cities have operational trolleybus systems; some systems closed in Lugano and Basel.
Turkmenistan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Kyrgyzstan2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Bulgaria2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Burgas
  • Haskovo
  • Pazardzhik
  • Pleven
  • Ruse
  • Sliven
  • Sofia
  • Stara Zagora
  • Varna
  • Vratsa
Various cities have operational systems; Pleven has the most developed system. Some systems closed due to financial reasons or road construction.
Serbia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Belgrade
Belgrade has eight trolleybus routes with plans for extensions.
Norway2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Bergen
Trolleybuses have been in use since 1950.
Slovakia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Banská Bystrica
  • Bratislava
  • Prešov
  • Žilina
Trolleybuses operate in four cities.
New Zealand2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Croatia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • No operational systems
Rijeka and Split had trolleybuses until 1972.
Georgia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Sukhumi
Trolleybuses once operated in 12 cities, only Sukhumi remains
Mongolia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
Bosnia and Herzegovina2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Sarajevo
Trolleybuses operate only in Sarajevo with seven routes (101–107).
Moldova2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Bălți
  • Chisinau
  • Tighina
  • Tiraspol
Trolleybuses are used in several cities.
Armenia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Yerevan
Operational since 1949, six routes run in Yerevan
Lithuania2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Kaunas
  • Vilnius
Trolleybuses have been in use since 1956 and 1965, respectively.
Slovenia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Ljubljana (past)
  • Piran (past)
Trolleybuses operated in Piran and Ljubljana in the past.
Latvia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Riga
Trolleybuses have been in use since 1947.
Estonia2 - Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks and
  • Tallinn
Trolleybuses in use, with a gradual substitution with hybrid drive buses.
Ethiopia1 - Trolleybus networks planned (as new or reconstruction)

Trolleybuses are a type of electrically-powered bus that receives its energy from cables that run overhead and are supported by spring-loaded poles. While they offer advantages over other forms of mass transit, trolleybuses are largely obsolete in developed countries, where they primarily serve as tourist attractions. However, trolleybuses still provide significant passenger transportation in a few countries.

History

The world’s first trolleybus system was built in Germany in 1882, where it quickly became a popular form of transportation. They remained common in many countries during the early 20th century, until private motor vehicles became readily affordable to the general public. Since then, the use of trolleybus systems has been declining, with 276 active systems remaining in the world as of 2021. In total, over 800 trolleybus systems have existed, although not all at the same time.

Advantages

Trolleybuses offer several advantages over other methods of passenger transport. For example, the infrastructure is easier to build and maintain than tram networks. In addition, trolleybuses generally climb hills more efficiently, avoid traffic more easily and are quieter. They’re also more environmentally friendly than buses, are easier to maintain and typically last longer.

Disadvantages

Trolleybuses require the driver to exert much more directional control than trams, creating a greater potential for collisions. The need for overhead cables also prevents trolleybuses from deviating from their prescribed routes the way buses can. This limitation is particularly disruptive when a trolleybus encounters a vehicle accident or road construction. For the same reason, trolleybuses can’t overtake each other.

In addition, the cables can prevent tall motor vehicles like tractor-trailers and double-decker buses from using the same route as trolleybuses. Furthermore, inhabitants of areas with trolleybuses often consider cables to be unattractive.

Trolleybus Systems by Country

The following list shows the countries with at least 10 trolleybus systems as of 2021:

  • Russia 79
  • Ukraine 41
  • Italy 14
  • China 13
  • Czech Republic 13
  • North Korea 11
  • Switzerland 10

Trolleybus systems are highly concentrated in Eastern Europe and Asia. Russia has the most by far at 79, with neighboring Ukraine a distant second at 41. Ukraine also has the world’s longest system in terms of route length, which is based in Kyiv. In addition, China and North Korea have a significant network of trolleybus networks. Outside Eastern Europe and Asia, Italy and Switzerland are the only other countries with more than five trolleybus systems.