In November 2024, the Chernihiv Trolleybus Department turned 60 years old. Trolleybuses are one of the city's symbols and the most common public transport. Over the decades of operation in Chernihiv, electric transport has never stopped running in the city - except for the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Then, the trolleybus service was suspended for almost three months for the first time.
- For almost 30 years, there have been no global changes to restore the trolleybus network. Only in 2016 did the city start allocating funds for the utility. Since then, we have been buying new trolleybuses almost every year, except for 2022, and have begun replacing power cables to power traction substations. Their operating mode is designed for 20-30 years, and they have been operating for almost 50 years, - says Ruslan Yemets, head of the Chernihiv Trolleybus Department.
The transportation infrastructure was also damaged during the hostilities on the outskirts of Chernihiv. About 45% of the trolleybus network, substations, infrastructure, bus stops, and information boards were destroyed. Nine trolleybus routes in the city out of 11 were operating before the invasion.
- There are 64 electric vehicles on the line, but more are needed for the city. We need to improve the infrastructure, as much of it was built in Soviet times,- says Oleksandr Ryzhyi, head of the Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure and Communications at Chernihiv City Council. - The total network of trolleybus routes is 103 kilometers of contact network. This year, 6 kilometers were replaced, but we understand that more than resources and budget funds are needed to change everything and improve working conditions.
Today, the city has 82 trolleybuses on its balance sheet, 46 of which are lower-floor energy-efficient trolleybuses that meet all modern requirements for passenger transportation. This year, the trolleybus department purchased 4 new trolleybuses with dynamic charging and more than 20 kilometers of autonomous range. Thanks to the purchase of these vehicles, a route was opened, part of which runs without a contact network.
The Chernihiv Trolleybus Department's restoration and modernization projects are included in the DREAM ecosystem. These include projects to replace worn-out cable lines, purchase new trolleybuses, and purchase a mobile electrical laboratory. You can read the details of the projects and support them on the public portal dream.gov.ua
- We have experience working with donors. Now, the company can create projects to restore or reconstruct infrastructure on the DREAM platform. A potential investor can get complete information there and understand where they can be helpful in Ukraine, - Ruslan Yemets said.
The DREAM Project Office created the material within the GIZ Ukraine Sustainable Society Cluster framework, funded by the German Government and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
