Estonia, Skoda wins Tallin’s tender for up to 70 trolleybuses
Skoda announces it won a 40-units trolleybuses tender in Tallin (with option for further 30). Vehicles will be deployed by carrier Aktsiaselts Tallinna Linnatransport, which provides transportation in the Estonian capital, in the Baltic region. According to the signed contract, the Czech company will deliver 22 eighteen-metre 33Tr trolleybuses and 18 twelve-metre 32Tr trolleybuses. The […]
Skoda announces it won a 40-units trolleybuses tender in Tallin (with option for further 30). Vehicles will be deployed by carrier Aktsiaselts Tallinna Linnatransport, which provides transportation in the Estonian capital, in the Baltic region.
According to the signed contract, the Czech company will deliver 22 eighteen-metre 33Tr trolleybuses and 18 twelve-metre 32Tr trolleybuses. The contract value, which includes comprehensive service and maintenance for up to 400,000 km and the option to deliver 30 more trolleybuses, exceeds EUR 50 million.
The first new trolleybuses are expected to arrive in Tallinn in the first half of 2026, the manufacturer says.
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In early 2024 Tallinn municipal government had decided to invest in 40 battery-powered trolleybuses and upgrade the contact network, launching the tender. This decision came after 24 years of transitioning from trolleybuses to buses (with heavy commitment to CNG drivetrains). This awarding follow the one in Vilnius for as many as 91 trolleybuses.
Under Tallin’s agreement, Škoda Group will supply two types of trolleybuses designated 32Tr and 33Tr, which differ primarily in length. Both models will be equipped with an alternative battery drive system, extending their operational range to up to 25 kilometres off the overhead line, Skoda states.
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The vehicles will feature air conditioning, a fully low-floor design, and modern information systems, including Wi-Fi connectivity, and also sliding doors and an electric ramp for the boarding of individuals in wheelchairs and with strollers. The articulated trolleybuses 33Tr will have two driven axles, allowing for better traction in winter conditions and improving the vehicle’s manoeuvrability.
“We are very pleased to have secured a new contract in Tallinn, a city where Škoda trolleybuses were once a cornerstone of public transport. Our trolleybuses have proven to be a reliable and sustainable transportation solution in many European cities, and we are confident that the residents of Tallinn will be satisfied with our solutions,” said Karel Majer, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Electric at Škoda Group.
“When we temporarily suspended trolleybus operations in the past, many opinions emerged claiming that this mode of transport would never return. We are now pleased to confirm that trolleybuses are returning in a big way, as promised. In addition to completely new vehicles, the entire trolleybus infrastructure will also be modernized. Now that the tender winner has been determined, we will begin preparations and establish a delivery schedule. We have already started dismantling the existing trolleybus network in Tallinn, and we are preparing some areas of the city for a transition to a trolleybus system without overhead lines, while in other areas, the existing overhead network is being modernized. This is an important step that will help make public transport in Tallinn more flexible and efficient,” stated Kaido Padar, Board Member of Aktsiaselts Tallinna Linnatransport.
Tallinn’s Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski commented:“We need to change the way we move every day and utilize more sustainable modes of transport. As our city grows, it becomes critical to reduce our reliance on cars, as each additional car on our streets worsens the environment by causing traffic jams, noise, dust, and air pollution. Of course, we must develop fast and convenient public transport to make this change happen. The acquisition of new trolleybuses is part of a broader vision focused on prioritizing public transport, into which we plan to invest more than €100 million in the coming years,“ the Mayor explained. “Trolleybuses have great potential to expand their reach into other parts of the city. In addition to trolleybuses, we are also purchasing new biogas buses and will build two new tram lines by 2029.”
