Work on the major repair of old Czech Tatra T3 trams is ongoing at three depots in the capital. However, according to experts from the NGO “Passengers of Kyiv,” these efforts are being carried out irrationally and do not correspond to the expenses incurred.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Experts have identified significant shortcomings in the repairs conducted. For instance, in the case of two repaired trams, it was found that the body was not replaced with a new one featuring a low-floor insert. This results in continued discomfort for passengers and inaccessibility for individuals with reduced mobility. Additionally, the old rheostat control system was not replaced with a modern electronic one, which significantly increases energy consumption — the trams continue to consume 40-45% more electricity than their modernized counterparts.
Repair Costs in Kyiv and Other Cities
There is also a question regarding the cost of the work. As noted by “Kyivpastrans,” the repair of one tram costs taxpayers about 10 million UAH. In comparison, the repair of similar trams in Odesa, where air conditioning and a new heating system are installed, costs 9.6 million UAH. In this case, a new control system with an auxiliary converter is also implemented.
Another example is the modernization of similar trams in Prague, where replacing the body with a partially low-floor one costs approximately 15 million UAH when converted to Ukrainian currency. It is known that this year, 10 trams are planned to be repaired in Kyiv: 5 in the Darnytsia depot, 3 in the Shevchenko depot, and 2 in the Podil tram depot.