Location: 440 km northwest of Rome.
Population: 95 335 (2008)
An important civil and military seaport on the Ligurian Sea.

The first system remains known as a test installation, as it operated for only 3 years. Rubber-tired electric carriages were fed from the overhead via a single pole with a small trolley cart attached to the top end of it. The cart rolled down the dual-wire overhead on four wheels. The given contraption was officially known then as "automobile elettrica con filo aereo senza guida di rotaie" ("electric automobile with overhead wire traction"). It is considered a prototype of a modern trolleybus. The system was prone to many glitches, of which most common were shorts under wet weather conditions. This prompted the city of La Spezia to suspend the contract with the operator, the "Societa per la Trazione Elettrica" of Milan.

[1951-1985]

The second system was essentially a replacement installation for trams. Trolleybuses took over the former tram lines as the latter were closed one by one between 1951-1953.

[1988 - Current]

The third and current trolleybus system is a product of the trolleybus resuscitation project of the late 1980s. It represents a portion of the former (second) network. The trolleybus infrastructure is provided for two potential trolleybus routes, however only one route numbered 1 is operated.

12.02.1906 - Trolleybus operation begins.
11.1909 - Trolleybus operation ends.
27.01.1951 - Trolleybus operations begins.
06.1985 - Trolleybus operation ends.
26.11.1988 - Trolleybus operation begins.

The length of the line: 6 km.

The initial plan called for the 13 km. interurban line between La Spezia and Portovenere. However, only the section as far as Fezzano was built.

[2010]

The length of the overhead: 24,4 km (one way).

A small 100 m. extension to Palaspezia was opened around 2007. It essentially became a short turn loop for the Bragarina line.

The overhead for the Chiappa – Canaletto variant of the Line 3, which used to be served with trolleybuses until mid-2000s, remains dormant.

There are plans to provide an overhead for the 1,5 km. section of the Line 3 between Mugliarina and Ospedale Felettino, which is currently served with diesel buses.

One line: Via Chiodo, Palazzo dell'Ammiragliato – Fezzano

The total one-way running time was 45 min., yielding an operating speed of 8 km/h.

[2003]

Trolleybus service (vehicles / headway):

Line 1 Pegazzano – Bragarina:
Weekdays: 6 / 12 min.
Saturdays: 2 / 30 min.
Sundays: 1 / 60 min.

Line 3 Chiappa – Canaletto:
Weekdays: 4 / 20 min.
Saturdays: none
Sundays: none

Line 3 Chiappa – Ospedale Felettino (operated with diesel buses):
Weekdays: 4 / 20 min.
Saturdays: 2 / 30 min.
Sundays: 1 / 60 min.

The Line 3 was served alternatively by both trolleybuses and diesel buses. While the Canaletto branch was served with trolleybuses on weekdays only, the Ospedale Felettino branch was served by diesel buses.

[2007]

Line 1 Pegazzano – Bragarina (alternate runs)
Line 1 Pegazzano – Palaspezia (alternate runs)

The branch of the Line 3 to Canaletto was suspended in the mid-2000s, which spelled the end of a trolleybus service on the Line 3. The line followed a somewhat circuitous routing, which was rather determined by the trolleybus overhead design, than the modern day passenger flow.

A small 100 m. extension to Palaspezia that opened around 2007 essentially became a short turn loop for the Bragarina line. Each alternative run terminates at Palaspezia, while each other run continues to Bragarina.

[2010]

Line 1 Pegazzano – Bragarina:
Weekdays: 6 / 12 min.
Saturdays: 2 / 30 min.
Sundays: 1 / 60 min.

A full service to Bragarina is restored.

There are plans to provide some form of a circular service following the existing overhead that forms a loop through Mugliarina and Canaletto neighborhoods.

[2010]

31-34 Turrinelli / Turrinelli (1906) (operated until 1909)
201-213 Viberti / Fiat 668-F-141 (1951) (203 museum vehicle)
214-217 Viberti / Fiat 668-F-141 (1953)
218-226 Piaggio / Alfa Romeo 900 AF (1953)
227-228 Pistoia / 012 St. George (1954) (with auxiliary batteries)
229-230 Pistoia / Alfa Romeo 910 AF (1956)
231-240 SEAC / Alfa Romeo 1000 AF (1963) (238 museum vehicle)
241-244 Mauri / Fiat 668-F-141, ex-Genoa (1977)

Bredabus 4001.12.LL: 14 trolleybuses 801-814 (1988)

Bredabus 4001.12 trolleybuses are among the last high-floor trolleybuses built in Italy. These trolleybuses feature automatic lowering, air conditioning and auxiliary batteries.