Testing of tram routes is planned in Odesa

On March 26 and 27, Odessmiskelectrotrans will test tram routes in Odesa. In this regard, motorists are urged to be especially careful on the roads and not to leave their cars on the tram tracks so as not to interfere with the movement of electric vehicles.

According to the company, the test trips are intended to check the readiness of the infrastructure and rolling stock after a long break in operation. Drivers are reminded that even a short-term blocking of the tracks can disrupt the running-in schedule and affect the subsequent launch of routes.

At the same time, a temporary transportation scheme is already operating in the city. We are talking about 25 buses that Odesa previously received from Lviv, Kropyvnytskyi and Mykolaiv. They have been tested and have been running around the city since January 5, providing transportation in socially important areas. The buses are free of charge for passengers.

The need for such a replacement arose due to the energy crisis: since the end of 2025, trams and trolleybuses in Odesa have not been operating due to a power shortage caused by Russian strikes on the energy infrastructure. As early as December 31, the head of the Odesa City Administration announced that electric transport would be shut down.

In response to the situation, other Ukrainian cities donated buses to Odesa to support transportation. In particular, the mayors of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, and Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Senkevych, asked for help. Subsequently, other regions joined this initiative: in late February, the city received eight more buses from Kyiv Oblast to expand its route network.

In addition, in January, Odesmiskelektrotrans sent 35 tram and trolleybus drivers for retraining to operate buses to ensure stable operation of public transportation in the new environment.

At the end of February, Odesa received eight buses from the Kyiv region to expand the network of social routes launched in the city to replace electric vehicles that have been out of service since the end of 2025 due to Russian strikes.

The testing of tram routes could be the first step towards the gradual restoration of electric transport in Odesa after a long pause.

Анна Бальчінос