Trolleybuses in Vilnius

Public transport

Vilnius trolleybus system

A Solaris Trollino 15AC trolleybus in 2006

Operation
Locale| Vilnius, Lithuania
Open| 1956 (1956)
Status| Open
Routes| 16
Operator(s)| Vilniaus viešasis transportas
Infrastructure
Electrification| 600 V DC parallel overhead lines
Statistics
daily| 200,000
Website| http://www.vilniausviesasistransportas.lt/

The Vilnius trolleybus system is the one of two existing trolleybus systems in Lithuania. It is operated by the municipal operator company Vilniaus viešasis transportas in the capital city of Vilnius. Up to 177 trolleybuses run on weekdays, 102 - on weekends.[1]

## History

[edit]

In October 1956, the Vilnius Trolleybus Board was established and a 7.8 km long contact network was built, together with a trolleybus depot in the suburb of Antakalnis for 25 trolleybuses. In November 1956, the first MTB-82D trolleybuses started service on the route from Antakalnis to the Railway station.

In the 1960s and 70s, Škoda 8Tr, and later - 9Tr trolleybuses replaced the old stock, with constant expansion of the network increasing the route count to 18.

In 1981, the trolleybus count doubled the maximum service power of the old trolleybus park, thus encouraging the construction of the second depot. It was ultimately opened on 28 December 1985, in the neighborhood of Viršuliškės and it could maintain 150 trolleybuses. At a similar time, new Škoda 14Tr trolleybuses were also introduced.

In April 1993, the board was reorganized to Vilniaus Autobusai, with the owner of the new company being the Vilnius city municipality. From the treasury of the municipality, even more new Škoda trolleybuses were bought in 1996–1999.

From 2004 to 2006, 45 new Polish trolleybuses Solaris Trollino 15AC were purchased, replacing the last of the Škoda 9Tr stock, and introducing low-floor trolleybuses to Vilnius.

On 4 November 2011, the company was again reorganized and incorporated into UAB Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas.[2]

In 2012, two new MAZ-ETON Amber 203T Vilnis 12AC trolleybuses, constructed with a MAZ-ETON chassis and a custom body in Lithuania, were bought by the company.[3]

As part of major public transport reforms, on 1 July 2013, four of the least profitable routes were closed down, along with the dismantling of 700 meters of the overhead lines on Naugarduko street.[4]

In 2018 and 2019, 41 Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybuses were delivered.[5]

In 2023 and 2024, 91 Škoda 32Tr SOR trolleybuses were bought. These vehicles are set to replace the aging Škoda 14Tr, as some units date back to 1986. The new vehicles contain onboard traction batteries, which allow travel for up to 20 km without the overhead catenary, and are made use of during roadworks or diversions due to city events. The municipality has also confirmed plans to organise a tender for 73 new articulated trolleybuses in 2025, which will replace the last of the 14Trs.[6][7]

## Vehicles

[edit]

### Currently operated

[edit]

* Škoda 14Tr[8] – 149 units, since 1984
* Škoda 15Tr – 3 units, since 1991
* Škoda 14TrM[9] – 23 units, since 1999
* Solaris Trollino II 15AC[10] – 45 units, since 2004
* Amber 203T Vilnis 12AC[11] – 2 units, since 2011
* Solaris Trollino IV 12 Škoda[12] – 41 units, since 2018
* Škoda 32Tr SOR[13] – 91 units, since 2024

### Formerly operated

[edit]

* MTB-82D[14] – 63 units, 1956-?
* Škoda 8Tr[15] – 15 units, 1960-?
* Škoda 9Tr[16] – 313 units, 1967-2006
* Gräf & Stift GE110[17][18] – 2 units, 1992-1999
* Jelcz PNTKM[19] – 1 unit, 1998-2011

## Routes

[edit]

No.  | Route[20] | Working Days  | Frequency  | Notes

|
|
|
|

1  | Karoliniškės–Žvėrynas–Stotis  | Everyday  | 20-30 min.  |
2  | Saulėtekis–Žygimantų g.–Stotis  | Everyday  | 5-10 min.  |
3  | Karoliniškės–Žvėrynas–Šiaures Miestelis  | Everyday  | 20-30 min.  |
4  | Antakalnis–Centras–Žemieji Paneriai  | Everyday  | 7-15 min.  | Terminates at Gerosios Vilties st. during weekends
6  | Žirmūnai–Kalvarijų g.–J. Basanavičiaus g.–Žemieji Paneriai  | Everyday  | 7-15 min.  |
7  | Pašilaičiai–Justiniškės–Žvėrynas–Stotis  | Everyday  | 5-10 min.  |
9  | Karoliniškės–Šeimyniškių g.–Žirmūnai  | Everyday  | 10-30 min.  |
10  | Saulėtekis–Kalvarijų g.–Naujininkai | Everyday  | 10-30 min.  |
12  | Žirmūnai–Šeimyniškių g.–J. Basanavičiaus g.–Žemieji Paneriai  | Everyday  | 15-40 min.  |
15  | Stotis–Žemieji Paneriai–Titnago g.  | Weekdays  | 20-30 min.  | Operates during peak hours only
16  | Pašilaičiai–Lazdynai–Stotis  | Everyday  | 8-20 min.  |
17  | Žirmūnai–Naujininkai  | Everyday  | 5-15 min.  |
18  | Pašilaičiai–Justiniškės–Žemieji Paneriai–Titnago g.  | Everyday  | 7-25 min.  |
19  | Pašilaičiai–Konstitucijos pr.–Antakalnis–Saulėtekis  | Everyday  | 10-20 min.  |
20  | Žirmūnai–Žygimantų g.–Pylimo g.–Stotis  | Everyday  | 20-30 min.  |
21  | Saulėtekis–Šilo tiltas–Žirmūnai  | Weekdays  | 30-60 min.  |

## Gallery

[edit]

* Škoda 32Tr SOR trolleybus in Vilnius, running without overhead wires on a diversion

* Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybus on route 20

* Škoda 14Tr. A usual sight during peak hours

* Škoda 15Tr. One of the three articulated trolleybuses in Vilnius, which run on line 7 during the peak hours[21]

* The historical Škoda 9Tr trolleybus in Vilnius. One example has remained for rent or, in this case, special services

## See also

[edit]

* Buses portal
* Lithuania portal

* List of trolleybus systems

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About us - UAB "Vilniaus viešasis transportas"". www.vilniausviesasistransportas.lt. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
2. ^ "Įmonės istorija". www.vilniausviesasistransportas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 28 May 2017.
3. ^ JuliusM. "Lietuviškas troleibusas sostinės gatvėse: nuo gedimų iki grožio :: Inovacijos Lietuvoje". www.technologijos.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
4. ^ Marius (1 July 2013). "2013-06-30. Paskutinė keturių maršrutų troleibusų darbo diena2013-06-30. Последний рабочий день 4 маршрутов троллейбусов 2013-06-30. Last workday of four trolleybus routes – Judėjimas „Už troleibusus Vilniuje"" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
5. ^ "Naujienos - UAB "Vilniaus viešasis transportas"". www.vilniausviesasistransportas.lt. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
6. ^ "91 Skoda trolleybuses for Vilnius". Urban Transport Magazine. 15 May 2023.
7. ^ "Vilnius pirks dar 73 naujus troleibusus". Made In Vilnius. 12 June 2024.
8. ^ "Vilnius, Trolleybus — Vehicle Statistics". transphoto.org. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
9. ^ "Vilnius, Škoda 14Tr17/6M — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
10. ^ "Vilnius, Solaris Trollino II 15 AC — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
11. ^ "Vilnius, MAZ-ETON T203 "Amber" — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
12. ^ "Vilnius, Solaris Trollino IV 12 Škoda — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
13. ^ "Vilnius, Škoda 32Tr SOR — List".
14. ^ "Vilnius, MTB-82D — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
15. ^ "Vilnius, Škoda 8Tr — List". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
16. ^ "Vilnius, Škoda 9Tr — Roster". transphoto.org. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
17. ^ "Vilnius, trolleybus # 133". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
18. ^ "Vilnius, trolleybus # 156". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
19. ^ "Vilnius, trolleybus # 1650". transphoto.org. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
20. ^ "Maršrutų tvarkaraščiai". www.stops.lt. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
21. ^ Marius (3 November 2015). "Skoda 15Tr trolleybuses are finally in route 7. For how long?". Judėjimas „Už troleibusus Vilniuje“. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Lithuanian and English)