Vilnius is ordering 73 hybrid trolleybuses to complete fleet renewal

The three-section Solaris Trollino IV 24 MetroStyle trolleybus on route 19 in Vilnius; photo: allransua

Another 73 high-capacity battery trolleybuses will appear in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The city carrier Vilniaus viešasis transportas (VVT) has announced a tender for their purchase. It is expected that the supply contract will be signed in the first quarter of 2025.

According to the Mayor of Vilnius, Valdas Benkunskas, this is a major component of investments in increasing the number of environmentally friendly public transport. ‘We plan to have at least 55% of all public transport vehicles powered by electricity by 2030, ’ Benkunskas said. The renewal of the rolling stock is part of the effort to meet climate targets and to make public transport more attractive to users.

VVT plans to purchase two-section 18-metre hybrid trolleybuses, whose rechargeable batteries allow them to travel up to 20 km without a contact network. This way, the city will be able to expand the route network to new streets and areas where buses with internal combustion engines are currently operating. The new vehicles will be low-floor, adapted for people with limited mobility and with a passenger capacity of 110 people.

According to Ignace Degutis, director of VVT, the carrier has already signed a contract to purchase 91 trolleybuses from Škoda Electric in 2023. "We plan to completely renew our trolleybus fleet by the end of 2026. This will make travel even more comfortable for residents and visitors and help reduce environmental emissions," says Degutis.

Škoda 32Tr SOR trolleybus on route 2 in Vilnius; photo: alltranua

According to VVT, 35 of the 91 new Škoda 32Tr trolleybuses have already been delivered to Vilnius. The rest are due to arrive by March 2025. By the end of 2026, the trolleybus fleet will be completely renewed thanks to a recently announced tender for the purchase of seventy-three new trolleybuses.

Vilnius has a population of about 630 thousand people. The city's trolleybus system was opened in 1956, with a 144 km long contact network and 21 routes. On the most intensive routes, peak intervals range from 3 to 10 minutes. The municipal carrier also operates bus routes. The cost of a 30-minute ticket on public transport in Vilnius is EUR 0.65, a day ticket is EUR 5, and a monthly ticket is EUR 29.