Yekaterinburg has received its first articulated buses, marking a significant upgrade to the city’s public transportation system. Five Volgabus vehicles have already been delivered to the transportation depot and are slated to operate on route No. 49, connecting MEGA through the city center to ZhBI. The city is expecting a total of 15 of these extended buses.

The procurement of the 15 articulated buses was formalized through a contract with “Avtotechkom.” These Volgabus vehicles are expected to begin service this summer. There is also consideration to deploy articulated buses on route No. 51, which is undergoing modifications to reroute it from Elizavet along Malysheva Street to the “University” technology park.

Route No. 51 is a vital connection for the Academichesky District, offering one of the quickest routes to the city center during peak hours, alongside route No. 52. Residents of the district have long advocated for larger buses on route 51 to alleviate overcrowding.

The previous generation of articulated buses in Yekaterinburg were Ikarus models, which were gradually retired between 2020 and 2021 due to their age. These buses were originally acquired in the late 1990s.

In addition to the new buses, the city is also set to acquire a fleet of three-section trams. These transportation improvements are part of a broader transport reform initiative overseen by Vice Mayor Rustam Galyamov.

A reader of E1.RU reported seeing one of the new buses being tested on city streets, although it has not yet been deployed on its designated route.