Trolleybuses in Ruse explained

Ruse trolleybus system
Locale:Ruse, Bulgaria
Status:Open
Routes:7
Operator:Общински Транспорт Русе АД
(Municipal Transport Ruse AD)
El:600 V DC
Depot:1
Stock:37 trolleybuses
Total Track Length:63NaN
Map State:November 2019
Website:http://www.transport-ruse.com Municipal Transport Ruse

The Ruse trolleybus system (Bulgarian: Русенски тролейбусен транспорт) is a part of the public transport network of the city and municipality of Ruse, the fifth most populous in Bulgaria. Opened in 1988, the system currently has seven lines and forms the backbone of the city's transport system. Its approximate length is 63 km and has been designed to work with 600V DC electricity, although not all infrastructure is actively in use.[1] Various models of trolleybuses have been operated in Ruse during the network's operation.

History

Initial years

The first trolleybus in the city of Ruse departed in 1988, along the route starting from the Western Industrial Zone. Lines were operated solely using ZiU trolleybuses. Although it was a new trolleybus system built in difficult times of economic stagnation, which worsened after the fall of the communist regime in the country, the network managed to branch out. Trolleybuses offered reliable transport connections in the busiest transport directions, replacing many bus routes. Retired trolleybuses from the Swiss cities of Basel, Bern, and Winterthur were introduced to the network in the late 1990s.

Private holding

It was announced on November 1, 2008 that Ruse municipality had signed a concession agreement with the Bulgarian branch of the Israeli transport company Egged. Under the concession, management of trolleybus operations within the city became the responsibility of the private Egged Ruse transport holding.

The entire stock of vehicles, consisting of Soviet built ZiU and former Swiss trolleybuses, was replaced in several stages between 2008 and 2013 with vehicles in used condition from various European countries. Investment was reported at 2 million euro.[2] The local municipality financed the replacement of around 70% of the overhead wire network under the integrated urban transport project. Repairs also included the repainting and replacement of damaged trolleybus pillars.

During this period, conductor service was discontinued for all trolleybus lines as a permanent cost-cutting measure.[3] Passengers instead purchase subscription and prepaid cards or a single-use ticket directly from the driver. After nearly nine years of operating under a private holding and low overall profitability, the trolleybus transport entity was transferred back to the local municipality on August 31, 2017.[4]

Municipal transport

Following the local municipality's reacquisition of the transport holding, a significant number of the aging vehicles in the transit fleet have been decommissioned. However, investments in additional trolleybuses in used condition continued in order to ensure the operation of the transport system. Deliveries occurred in multiple tranches between 2019 and 2022.[5]

New overhead switches equipped with automatic remote control functionality have been installed throughout the city in order to replace outdated infrastructure and enhance trolleybus performance.[6] Ruse received 15 modern trolleybuses from Czech manufacturer SOR Libchavy in 2023.[7]

Services

Today, the Ruse trolleybus network has 7 lines:

!Line!Route!Stops
2 "Treti Mart" Blvrd. – "Sent Uan" Str. – "Nikolaevska" Str. – "Skobelev" Blvrd. – "Lipnik" Blvrd. 15 stops
9 Charodeyka South-Residential District – "Hristo Botev" Blvrd – "Stefan Stambolov" Str. – "Treti Mart" Blvrd. 12/13 stops
13 Druzhba 3 Residential District – "Dame Gruev" Str. – "Tsar Osvoboditel" Blvrd. - "Lipnik" Blvrd. – Ruse Sorting yard. 14 stops
21 Charodeyka South-Residential District – "Tsar Osvoboditel" Blvrd. – "Lipnik" Blvrd. – Ruse Sorting yard. 13 stops
24 Druzhba 3 Residential District – "Tsar Osvoboditel" Blvrd – "Skobelev" Blvrd. – "Treti Mart" Blvrd. 13/14 stops
27 Druzhba 3 Residential District – "Hristo Botev" Blvrd. – "Syedinenie" Blvrd. – "Tutrakan" Blvrd. 15 stops
29 Charodeyka South-Residential District – "Hristo Botev" Blvrd. – "Syedinenie" Blvrd. – "Pliska" Str. – "Tutrakan" Blvrd. 14 stops

Fleet

Current fleet

Trolleybus transport in Ruse operates SOR TNS 12, alongside used NAW/Lauber 91T vehicles.[8]

In service Manufacturer Type Model Built Remarks
15 unitsSOR LibchavyTNS 12rigidyes2023Hybrid trolleybuses
22 unitsNAW/Lauber91Trigidno1986–1990ex Lausanne.

Past fleet

Quantity Manufacturer Type Model Built Remarks
56 unitsZiUZiU-9rigidno1988-1990Soviet built vehicles.
5 unitsZiUZiU-10articulatedno1989Soviet built vehicles.
6 unitsBerna4GTParticulatedno1965-1969ex Basel and Winterthur
4 unitsFBWTr51rigidno1956ex Basel
6 unitsFBWGTr51articulatedno1961
29 unitsIveco2470 Socimirigidno1983-1984ex Milan. 1 vehicle donated to Ruse University.
2 unitsSkoda Electric14Trrigidno1989ex Plzeň. Training vehicle retired in June 2022.
7 unitsNeoplanN6021articulatedyes1995–1996ex Basel
2 unitsMercedes-BenzO405GTDarticulatedno1990ex Esslingen
8 unitsFBW/Hess91Trigidno1982–1983ex Lausanne.Retired 2022. 2 units scrapped.
8 unitsRenaultER100Hrigidno1989ex Limoges.Retired 2022. 2 units scrapped.
12 unitsSkoda Electric21TrACIrigidno2001-2003ex Plzeň.Retired 2023.

See also

External links

43.85°N 83°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Analysis of the condition of the trolleybus electrical network in Ruse . Mitko Marinov, Pavel Stoyanov . 2011 . 31 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Русе ще е с нови тролеи. dir.bg. 4 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Kalamov . Nikolai . Съкращават кондуктори в градския транспорт на Русе. Trud . 19 January 2023.
  4. Web site: Todorov . Konstantin . Община Русе стана собственик на тролейбусния транспорт в града (снимки) . Novini . 4 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Konec trolejbusů Škoda 21 Tr v Bulharsku. Československý Dopravák. 26 October 2023.
  6. Web site: NRJ Soft . Ен Ер Джи Софт ЕООД сключи Договор с Общински Транспорт Русе ЕАД . NRJ Soft . 26 December 2022.
  7. Web site: The first new trolleybuses of "Municipal Transport" arrived from the Czech Republic. Ruse Municipality . 8 December 2022.
  8. Web site: „Общински транспорт Русе“ ЕАД планира закупуване на още 10 употребявани дизелови автобуса за изпълнение на новата транспортна схема. Ruseinfo . 11 January 2024.