The Tallinn City Government decided to purchase 30 more battery trolleys. A total of 70 battery trolleys will be purchased. These trolleys will operate between Kopli and Mustamäe. In the future, trolley lines are planned towards Haabersti and Lasnamäe.
The purchase of additional trolleys is partly financed by European funds. €12.1 million has been allocated for the purchase of 17 battery trolleys. The new trolleys will start arriving on Tallinn streets at the beginning of next year.
First, trolley traffic will be restored on bus lines 81, 83, 84, and 85. These were formerly trolley lines 1, 3, 4, and 5. These lines will be served by 18 standard and 22 large trolleys.
Since 30 more trolleys are being purchased, the opening of trolley lines towards Haabersti and Lasnamäe is being considered. In Lasnamäe, trolley traffic is planned to be used on Laagna Road.
The first new trolleys will operate on line number 72. This is the former trolley line number 9 between Kopli and Mustamäe. The infrastructure already exists on this line, allowing the restoration of trolley traffic.
In the second phase, trolley traffic is planned to be extended to bus line number 42. This line runs from Õismäe to Lasnamäe and is Tallinn's most popular bus line. This will require additional infrastructure to be built on Paldiski Road and Laagna Road.
Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan said that trolleys are better suited for Lasnamäe than trams. Trolleys can also exit the Lasnamäe canal and pick up passengers from other streets.
Tallinn City Transport Manager Kaido Padar said that the arrival of new trolleys will take 18 months. The first new Škoda trolleys will arrive in Tallinn in March next year.
Tallinn City Transport signed a contract with Škoda, under which 22 large and 18 small trolleys will be purchased. In the future, it will be possible to purchase 30 more trolleys.
Last year, Tallinn took trolleys out of service because they were too old and damaged. They likely would not have survived the winter.