Brno was first city with tramway in Czech Republic, dated 1869. Trolleybus
network was not so quick, but anyway, Brno was among first cities with
this kind of transport.
First plans to built trolleybuses were here since 30's, but these plans
were not realised. In 1946 new project was introduced again, there were
plans to built 6 lines to Masarykova ctvrt, Modrice, Turany, Slatina, Kralovo
Pole and to barrage. In 1948, construction started on three lines only.
On 30th July 1949 first line to Slatina was introduced, on 6th service
between Moravske nam and Kralovo Pole started, and finally, last day of
1949 was start for line to Turany. For these three lines, 15 trolleybuses
of Skoda 6Tr type were delivered (except one vehicle for Plzen, this type
was unique in Brno). Lines were numbered 21,22 and 23.
Trolleybus service was very popular, so new vehicles of 7Tr were delivered,
to extend service. In 1954, first line was extended from Slatina to Slapanice.
At this time, two lines (this line and line to Turany) were ended outside
city.
Trolleybuses were stored in tramway depot in Husovice. In mid of 50's,
construction of new tramway depot in Kralovo Pole started, this depot was
prepared for both tramway and trolleybus service, and was opened in 1958.
Also, new trolleybuses of type 8Tr (No.32-42) were delivered
Trolleybus service on line 22 was unable to carry all passengers. New tramway route was built instead, and this line was moved to parallel street, service on this new line started in 1961. In 1963, two new trolleybuses of 9Tr type were delivered. They were originally prepared for Sowiet Union, they were equipped with only two doors. Next year, first problems started. In 1965, trolleybuses were removed from Kralovo Pole, and were stored in Husovice only again. Finally, in 1968 route to Turany was abandoned, and there were plans to abandon rest of network in three years. In 1968, only 31 trolleybuses were in fleet.
Surprisingly, next year this decision was changed, and even in this
hard period for all other trolleybus' networks expansion started here rapidly.
New vehicles 9Tr were purchased, and in 1970 first new line to Zabovresky
was opened. In 1971, new line to Vychodilova was opened. Rest of tramways
was moved from Husovice to Kralovo Pole, so depot in Husovice was adapted
for trolleybuses exclusively. On first day of year 1972 there was 5 lines,
numbered newly as 31-35. In 1974 new line to southern part of Slatina was
introduced, in 1975 also lines to western part of city - Kohoutovice, next
year followed routes to Komin, 1978 followed line to Bohunice.
In 1979, there was total amount of 139 vehicles in Brno. Depot of Husovice
was able to store only about 80 trolleybuses, so construction of new depot
was planned, but not started at this time. Meanwhile, new innercity line
to Masarykova ctvrt was opened, followed in 1981 with line to southern
part of Bystr (north of city). In 1982, trolleybus lines were renumbered
for last time to 131.-140. In 1982, new line to Slatina was (re)opened,
and in 1983 new line to Bohunice was introduced
In 1984, finally, new depot in Slatina was opened. Sadly, it was depot
in 'Russian' style, so there was no roof, only space for trolleybuses.
50 vehicles was stored here at this moment.
In 1986 new innercity line to Fucikova ctvrt was introduced. This line
was one of greatest mistakes in history of Brno's trolleybuses, only few
passengers were able to use it. This line was abandoned in earyly 90's
Very important line was opened in 1987, it started in tramway loop
in Stara Osada and provided link to Vinohrady. In 1988 was this route extended
to Lisen.
In end of 1989, there was 17 trolleybuses lines in Brno. This was the
highest amount ever seen in all trolleybus' networks in whole Czech republic.
Following lines were in service
| 131 | Hlavní nádraží - Šlapanice |
| 132 | Česká - Královo Pole |
| 133 | Hlavní nádraží - Slatina nádraží |
| 134 | Česká - Vychodilova |
| 135 | Stará Osada - sídliště Vinohrady |
| 136 | Česká - Komín |
| 137 | Komenského náměstí - Kohoutovice |
| 138 | Komenského náměstí - Nový Lískovec |
| 139 | Komenského náměstí - Barvičova |
| 140 | Česká - Bystrc |
| 141 | Hlavní nádraží - Slatina |
| 142 | Mendlovo náměstí - Kohoutovice |
| 143 | Mendlovo náměstí - Bohunice - Chirana |
| 144 | Komenského náměstí - Preslova |
| 145 | Komenského náměstí - Bohunice, Kalininova |
| 146 | Janáčkovo divadlo - Štefáníkova čtvrť |
| 147 | Stará Osada - Novolíšeňská |
Since 1990, lines 135 and 146 were stopped, because they were not used often by passengers. In 1991, line 140 was temporarily replaced by buses, there are plans to resume trolleybus service, but sometime in 1999/2000. Trolleybus fleet was renewed with 14Tr trolleybuses, since 1991 new articulated 15Tr trolleybuses were introduced here. At this time, again there were problems with lack of space in trolleybus depots. There were plans to built third trolleybus depot in Komin.
Some minor changes were done in trolleybus network in 90's, mainly in western area (Bohunice, etc.). In 1994, major change was done in this network, new route 145 through whole city between Mendlovo namesti and Stara Osada was introduced. Surprisingly, this was no new line, but there was newly passenger service on trolleybus routes, whose were used only like connection between depots and normal routes. Although there was never public service in this area, this line becomes highly popular. Service started with 20-min service of solo trolleybuses 14Tr. Now, there is 8-minut service with articulated trolleybuses 15Tr. In 1995 on this route was again introduced line no.146, both these lines are filled with passengers very well
In 1995, finally started construction of new depot in Komin. This high-tech depot was opened in spring 1997. Unfortunately, there was not enough funds to buy new trolleybuses, so depot in Komin is filled only for 1/2 of it's capacity, and on trolleybus lines 135 and 140 buses can be often seen
New trolleybuses Skoda 21Tr are ordered, but they were not delivered yet. There are plans to built new trolleybus line to railway station Kralovo Pole, and to resume trolleybus service on line 140. Also, there are plans to built route to Jundrov, and to extend trolleybus route in Lisen.
Trolleybus network in Brno is biggest in whole Czech Republic
Following lines are in service in 1998
| 131 | Hlavní nádraží - Šlapanice |
| 132 | Česká - Královo Pole |
| 134 | Česká - Vychodilova |
| 135 | Mendlovo náměstí - Kamenný Vrch |
| 136 | Česká - Komín |
| 137 | Komenského náměstí - Kohoutovice |
| 139 | Komenského náměstí - Barvičova |
| 141 | Hlavní nádraží - Slatina |
| 142 | Mendlovo náměstí - Kohoutovice |
| 144 | Komenského náměstí - Preslova |
| 145 | Vinohrady - Starý Lískovec, Osová |
| 146 | Kamenný vrch - Vinohrady |
| 147 | Stará Osada - Novolíšeňská |
Following vehicles are in service:
a) depot Komín, lines 134,135,136,137,139,142,145,146
| 14Tr/01 | 3169-3187 | in service since 1983 |
| 14Tr/03 | 3188-3192 | in service since 1984 |
| 14Tr/07 | 3193-3200 | in service since 1985 |
| 14Tr/14 | 3265-3266 | in service since 1994 |
| 14TrM | 3267-3287 | in service since 1995/6 |
| 21Tr | 3001-3010 | low floor |
| 64 vehicles |
| 14Tr/07 | 3201-3204 | in service since 1985 |
| 14Tr/08 | 3205-3213 | in service since 1987 |
| 14Tr/08 | 3214-3220 | in service since 1989 |
| 14Tr/11 | 3241-3242 | in service since 1990 |
| 14Tr/11 | 3243-3250 | in service since 1992 |
| 14Tr/14 | 3258-3264 | in service since 1994 |
| 15Tr | 3501-3508 | in service since 1990/1 |
| 45 vehicles |
| 14Tr/08 | 3221-3231 | in service since 1989 |
| 14Tr/08 | 3232-3240 | in service since 1990 |
| 14Tr/11 | 3251-3257 | in service since 1994 |
| 27 vehicles |
Map:
One of 7Tr trolleybuses at exhibition in Teplice
Museum trolleybuses of TM Brno
