Vitebsk's tram fleet will be renewed by a quarter in 2011

April 4, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Vitebsk's tram fleet will be updated by a quarter in 2011, Vasily Pavlyuchkov, head of the unitary transport enterprise "Vitebsk Tram and Trolleybus Administration," told a BELTA correspondent. This year, the administration and OJSC "Belkommunmash" signed a contract for the supply of 20 new trams of the AKSM 62103 model. Their distinctive features are a modern design, a variable floor level, which makes the transport convenient for people with disabilities and the elderly, as well as economy and safety. Specifically for Vitebsk, all trams will be painted red and white. The first three cars have already arrived in Vitebsk and are undergoing pre-operation training. They will be put into service any day now. Another 8 red and white trams will join the fleet by the XX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," which will be held in July. The rest will arrive by the end of the year. It is worth noting that the first tram in Vitebsk appeared in 1898, a year earlier than in Moscow and 9 years earlier than in St. Petersburg. Despite revolutions and wars, this mode of transport has never stopped carrying passengers. According to Mikhail Pavlyuchkov, they do not intend to replace it with other modes of transport now. Despite significant capital investments at the initial stage of track and utility construction, the tram remains one of the most economical forms of urban transport. In addition, in large megacities, the environmental safety of trams plays a significant role. The tram fleet of the regional center numbers 97 units. Passengers are transported along 9 routes, the total length of which is 165 km. In the Vitebsk region, the tram is also used as a form of public urban transport in Novopolotsk. -0-