Trolleybuses in Stara Zagora explained

Stara Zagora trolleybus system
Locale:Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Status:Open
Routes:4
Operator:Trolleybus and Bus Transport Stara Zagora
Depot:1
Stock:28 trolleybuses
Route Length:29.5NaN[1]
Total Track Length:23.4NaN
Pass Year:2011
Passengers:2.25 million
Map: Stara Zagora trolleybus system map, August 2013
Map State:show

The Stara Zagora trolleybus system (Bulgarian: Тролейбусен транспорт Стара Загора) forms part of the public transport network of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

Opened in November 1987,[2] it is one of the 10 trolleybus systems currently operating in Bulgaria.

History

The Stara Zagora trolleybus system was constructed in the 1980s as many other trolleybus systems in Bulgaria. The system was designed with two major lines, connecting the north parts of the city with the south, and the east parts - with the west. The two major lines are connected in the city center close to the Alana park.

The first trolleybuses that ran through the streets of Stara Zagora were second-hand Škoda 14Tr trolleybuses that used to serve the Sofia network. In the following years, new ZiU and DAC-Chavdar vehicles were delivered to complete the system fleet. Due to poor reliability the DAC-Chavdar trolleybuses were already withdrawn by the end of the 1990s.[3]

The next delivery of new vehicles occurred 22 years later in 2009, when 6 low-floor trolleybuses were delivered by the Ukrainian Lviv Bus Factory.[4]

In 2014 Stara Zagora received 8 brand new Škoda Solaris 26Tr trolleybuses as part of a joint order with the municipalities of Burgas, Varna and Pleven sponsored by a European Union program.In 2015 14 similar trolleybuses followed, this time from the Solaris Trollino 12 type.[5] The older Škoda and ZiU trolleybuses were scrapped except for one unit of each type which were purchased for preservation in Sofia. The newer LAZ trolleybuses were withdrawn and are stored in the depot awaiting disposition.

Lines

The four lines of the present Stara Zagora trolleybus system are as follows:[6]

Line Route Notes
1 Zheleznik – SBA Not operating since 23.10.2021
2 Beroe Stadium – Mototehnika
26 Zheleznik - Mototehnika operates Mon-Sat only
36

Fleet

Current fleet

, the Stara Zagora trolleybus fleet consists of :[3]

Quantity Manufacturer Model No Entered service Low-floor
8 26Tr 2014yes
14 Trollino 12 2015yes

Former fleet

Quantity Manufacturer Model No
6 E183
20 682
4 317ETR
10 14Tr

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Доклад-анализ относно възможностите за икономически ефективно увеличение на участието на тролейбусния транспорт във вътрешноградските пътнически превози в България . Report-analysis on the potential of economically effective increase of the trolleybus transport share in urban passenger transport in Bulgaria . PDF . Bulgarian . June 2012 . Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications - Bulgaria . 1 August 2013.
  2. Web site: Official website of Trolleybus Transport Stara Zagora . 8 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Vehicles List - Stara Zagora, trolleybus . transphoto.ru . 30 July 2013.
  4. Web site: Tzoneva . Velizara . Нови тролеи от Украйна . New trolleybuses from Ukraine . Bulgarian . 23 March 2009 . TV Stara Zagora . 1 August 2013.
  5. Web site: Избират доставчик на 14 нови тролейбуса в Стара Загора . Choosing a supplier for 14 new trolleybuses in Stara Zagora . Dobreva . Svetla . stroitelstvo.info . 8 July 2013 . 30 July 2013.
  6. Web site: Тролейбусни линии - Община Стара Загора . Trolleybus lines - Stara Zagora municipality . starazagora.bg . 30 July 2013.