Buses and Trams

Overview

ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) operates all buses and trams in Milan. The bus network covers the entire city and suburbs, while the tram network is one of the largest in Europe with over 160 km of track. For wheelchair users, modern buses are reliably accessible, but tram accessibility depends on the model.

Buses

All ATM buses in Milan are low-floor vehicles with electric ramps. Buses are a reliable accessible option throughout the city.

How to Board in a Wheelchair

1. Wait at the bus stop near the middle door, which is marked with the wheelchair symbol.
2. Signal the driver. Make eye contact or wave so the driver knows you need the ramp. If the bus is approaching and you are not visible, press the accessibility button at the stop if one is available.
3. The driver deploys the ramp at the middle door. On most ATM buses, the ramp extends automatically or the driver activates it from the cabin.
4. Roll onto the bus and position yourself in the wheelchair space. The space has a backrest panel and is located near the middle door.
5. Apply your brakes and face the rear of the bus if possible, resting against the backrest panel.
6. To exit, press the stop button early and move to the middle door. The driver will deploy the ramp again at your stop.

Wheelchair Spaces

Each bus has one or two designated wheelchair spaces with fold-down seats that other passengers should vacate. These spaces also have a call button to alert the driver you want to exit at the next stop. There is room for one wheelchair user per space. If both spaces are occupied by other wheelchair users, you may need to wait for the next bus.

Bus Route Information

• ATM Milano app: Real-time bus tracking with accessibility information. Available on iOS and Android.
• Google Maps: Shows ATM bus routes and estimated travel times. Use the "wheelchair accessible" filter for step-free routes.
• ATM website (atm.it): Full route maps and timetables.

Trams

Milan has a famous tram network, but not all trams are accessible. The city operates a mix of historic and modern trams, and only the modern models have low-floor sections with ramps.

Accessible Tram Models

Sirio (Series 7000/7100): Modern low-floor trams with a middle section close to ground level. Equipped with electric ramps at designated doors. Wheelchair spaces are in the low-floor section. These trams serve several routes across the city.

Sirietto (Series 7500): Shorter modern trams, also low-floor with ramps and wheelchair spaces. Used on some inner-city routes.

TramLink (new in 2025): The newest trams in Milan's fleet, introduced on Lines 7 and 31 in 2025. These are fully low-floor, bi-directional trams with three doors per side, all equipped with ramps. They have designated wheelchair areas and audio/visual announcements in Italian and English. TramLink trams represent the best tram accessibility in Milan.

Inaccessible Trams

Series 1500 "Peter Witt" (Vintage Trams): These yellow-and-cream trams from the 1920s and 1930s are a Milan icon and still operate on some routes, including the tourist-oriented Line 1E. They have narrow doors, steep steps (3 steps of about 30 cm each), and no ramp or low-floor section. These trams are not accessible to wheelchair users.

Series 4600/4700 (Jumbotram): Older articulated trams. Some have been partially retrofitted, but the floor height and entrance steps still make them difficult or impossible for wheelchair users.

How to Identify Accessible Trams

• Modern trams (Sirio, Sirietto, TramLink) are sleek and have a visibly low floor section at the center.
• Look for the blue wheelchair symbol on the door.
• Vintage trams have a distinctive old-fashioned design with rounded ends and a high floor.
• The ATM app shows which tram model is approaching your stop on some routes.

Accessible Tram Lines

Lines 4, 7, 9, 14, 15, and 31 regularly run modern low-floor trams. However, the specific tram assigned to a route can change day to day. If an inaccessible tram arrives, wait for the next one or use an alternative route.

Night Service

After the metro closes (around 12:30 AM), ATM runs night bus routes (prefixed "NM") that follow metro lines, plus additional night tram and bus routes (prefixed "N"). All night buses are low-floor with electric ramps. Night tram accessibility depends on the tram model assigned.

Key night routes:

• NM1, NM2, NM3, NM4: Replace the respective metro lines.
• N25, N26: Night bus routes serving the city center and suburbs.

Night buses run approximately every 20 to 30 minutes.

Radiobus Service

ATM also operates a Radiobus service for evening and night travel. You book a pickup by phone and a minibus collects you from a designated stop. Radiobus vehicles have wheelchair lifts. Call ATM Infoline at +39 02 48 607 607 to book.