Did the anticipation in fact result in service resumption since? Somehow I anticipate that we still anticipate :)

You may not participate in this competition as you recently visited Italy... The question is indeed: when will it come back in service?

Some local newspapers spoke about june 2023 - or maybe july, or 2024...

More interesting: the 404 was the car that was involved in that accident in 2016. As far as I understood (from the newspapers), the tram is able to run and the tracks were also checked. This is not the only testrun, but at least: the photo is excellent for the site.

Any update if Trieste tram opens this year?

I checked several sources. A dedicated Facebook page or group also exist. In the best case, operation without passengers will start soon. The meaning of the word "soon" is slightly different in Italy than in the rest of the world. Conclusion: don't expect anything, hope for the best.

According to Blickpunkt Straßenbahn 4/2023 there was a safety check by the Italian Ministry of Transport in April, which revealed deficiencies. An opening date has been postponed indefinitely.

"The tram will have 19 new drivers, the qualification tests are underway
From tomorrow 8 June and in the coming weeks they will be engaged in tests for the issue of qualifications.... In the parts of Trieste Trasporti there is no comment on the possible restart dates of the Trieste-Opicina train, but the news of the "driving tests" aimed at the "issue of licenses to new drivers" has fueled more than a few hopes among tram fans. There is no date, it should be reiterated to avoid fueling false expectations among the population. The ministerial bureaucracy and the completion of the works on the line do not allow for major manoeuvres, except for the one which in the coming weeks will bring new drivers to carry out tests in the stretch between piazza Oberdan and piazza Casali." (translated with Google Translate)

Source: https://www.triesteprima.it/cronaca/tram...ti.html

When even Italians talk about bureaucracy...
On the positive side, the fleet has been completely overhauled and drivers are being trained.
We know that Italian "projects" can take decades... Patience will be necessary.