Trolleybuses in Jinan

The Jinan Trolleybus System serves the city of Jinan, in the province of Shandong, China. Opened in 1977, the system is operated by the Jinan Public Transport Corporation, and presently consists of 15 lines.

History
The first trolleybus route in Jinan, route 1, was opened to public on 1 January 1977. In the same year, route 2 commenced operations. The routes were renumbered to 101 and 102 in 1992. In the late 1990s, two more routes, 103 and 104, were opened.

The first trolleybus with batteries was introduced on route 101 in March 2011, while the last trolleybuses without batteries were retired in August 2018, allowing greater flexibility of routing.

From 2020, a large BRT trolleybus network was constructed with loans from the Asian Development Bank. The original plan for 111.2 km of new trolleybus contact network was modified to a total of 60.8 km of new contact network and 15 km of upgraded network, with the other sections replaced by either electric buses or trolleybuses running on autonoumous course to "provide better city landscape", while also introducing a trolleybus museum to the plan.

On 20 September 2022, articulated LCK5180A trolleybuses started operations on BRT-1. Newer dual power trolleybuses serve the line, reducing the reliance on a contact network and reducing visual pollution. Due to this design, trolleybuses enter and exit the depots on autonoumous course, and BRT-10 also partially drives on battery power for part of its route.

Fleet
From the early 2000s to 2013, the only model of trolleybus used in Jinan was the JK6120D, manufactured by China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, or Sinotruk, which is based in Jinan. In earlier years, Jinan also employed some second-hand SK561G articulated trolleybuses purchased from Luoyang; those 1980s-models were all retired before 2007. In 2014, the entire fleet was replaced by dual-mode trolleybuses manufactured by Yutong and Zhongtong Bus. These new trolleybuses featured air-conditioning, low-floor access, leather-covered seats, "maternal-and-child" seats and LED destination signs.

As part of the ADB-funded BRT trolleybus project, 385 trolleybuses were ordered, modified from the original 735.

Expansion
The Jinan Government drafted a plan to expand the trolleybus system into a "Three Horizontal Five Vertical" Trolleybus BRT network by 2021. 292 articulated and 443 rigid trolleybuses were ordered to service the expansion. Jinan BRT 1 and 7 will be the first to convert over to trolleybus operation by 2019.

A trolleybus museum was introduced into the BRT trolleybus plan with a purpose of reshaping the public's perspective on trolleybuses. It was eventually completed as part of the bus museum, with exhibits showcasing various trolleybus related equipments.