85 years of trolleybus in Eberswalde: A celebration of history and mobility!

85 years of trolleybus in Eberswalde: A celebration of history and mobility!

In just 85 days we will be celebrating a very special anniversary: ​​On September 13, 2025, the 85th anniversary of trolleybus transport will be celebrated in style at the Nordend depot in Eberswalde from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From the first trolleybus in 1940 to the modern electric buses of today - the history of Eberswalde trolleybuses is an exciting chapter in regional transport history. Loud Barnim Current Guests can look forward to a varied program that includes six stations: “O-Bus Historical”, “O-Bus Current”, “Open Gates”, “Children”, “Delicacies” and “Information & Entertainment”. Detailed program information will be published in mid-August.

Did you know that Eberswalde is the oldest active trolleybus company in Germany? The trolleybus network was opened on September 1, 1940 and has been running ever since - only interrupted by the turmoil of the war. The maiden voyage took place on November 3, 1940 and the first vehicle, an MPE 1, had an output of 61 kilowatts. The story that began with this sees numerous twists and turns, including the fact that until 1985 trolleybuses also ran with trailers, which was particularly helpful in times of high passenger traffic BBG Eberswalde reported.

The development of the trolleybus system

The history of the Eberswalde trolleybus system began in 1901 at Alsenplatz, but the first line could not be maintained for long. It was not until 1940 that a new attempt was made that would shape mobility in the city from then on. Despite the war damage that the depot suffered from a bombing in 1945, operations continued and were modernized. Over the years, new models have repeatedly come into play, from the first MPE 1 to ŠKODA brand vehicles to the modern trolleybuses of the SOLARIS/CEGELEC series, which were purchased between 2010 and 2012.

A big innovation is coming in April 2024: Then new fourth-generation trolleybuses will arrive that can run emission-free and without overhead lines. Eberswalde is thus establishing itself as a model company for sustainable electromobility from an industrial perspective, as the vehicle fleet is equipped with powerful traction batteries, as is also the case on the side BBG Eberswalde can be read.

Electromobility in the German context

The trolleybus is an important means of transport not only in Eberswalde. The trend towards electromobility is unmistakable throughout Germany. In 2021, there were over 1.2 million electric vehicles on the road, including around 664,000 purely electric cars, like this Electromobility support association shows. This shows that the city of Eberswalde with its trolleybus system is not only locally relevant, but also nationwide. The development of the trolleybus is part of the trend to make local public transport more sustainable and adapt it to future mobility requirements.

The countdown to the big festival of the trolleybus network has begun and the anticipation is increasing. Anyone who is interested in the history and future of mobility in Eberswalde is warmly invited to take part in the festival and experience the development of the trolleybus in person! Save September 13, 2025 to join in the celebration and learn more about this sustainable form of transportation!