It links Piazza Oberdan, on the northern edge of the city centre, with the village of Villa Opicina in the hills above.

When in use, for most of the journey the line operates as a conventional, electrically powered tramway, with a mixture of street running and reserved track.

New unmanned cable tractors were provided during the 2005–2006 rebuild, which are remotely operated by the tram drivers.

[1][8][9][10][11] On 14 August 2016, trams 404 and 405 were involved in a collision at the passing loop at Conconello on the upper section of the line.

Both cars were badly damaged, whilst eight passengers and both drivers were injured, with six requiring hospital treatment.

The two damaged cars were repaired by early 2017,[3][4][5] and in December 2017 the regional council granted €3 million to restore the tramway.

Two of the cars are in the open air in the depot yard, while a third remains abandoned in the street in Trieste where the dummy is engaged.

Following these tests, TPL will assess when trams can resume full passenger operation, 8 years after it was suspended.

The line is of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge, and is single-tracked with eleven intermediate stops and four passing loops.

[1] The longer upper section, from Vetta Scorcola to Villa Opicina, is mostly on roadside reservation or private right-of-way in open rural country.

Cars 401-405 were built in 1935 by Officine Meccaniche Stanga with Tecnomasio Italiano Brown Boveri electrical components.

Cars 406-407 were built in 1942 by the same companies to a similar design, although war-time shortages resulted in a more basic interior and different window detail.

The original car 1 was built in 1902, at Graz in Austria, by Grazer Waggonfabrik with electrical components from Österreichische Union-Elektrizitätsgesellschaft.

Car 6 has also survived and been recently restored, having been displayed as a static exhibit at the railway museum in Trieste Campo Marzio station.