Yekaterinburg will soon update its tram fleet with the delivery of 15 new 71-639 "Kastor" trams from the Ust-Katav Wagon-Building Plant (UKVZ). The enterprise, part of Roscosmos, won the auction by offering a price 500 million rubles lower than the initial one.
The delivery of the new trams is expected by winter, which will improve the quality of public transport in the city. The head of Yekaterinburg, Alexey Orlov, previously announced the purchase of 50 trams, and the new "Kastors" will be an important step in this direction. Last year, the "Gortrans" park was already replenished with two new cars, which indicates a constant renewal of the transport infrastructure.
Initially, the Yekaterinburg mayor's office faced difficulties in holding the auction, as the terms of the competition were challenged. The General Director of Uraltransmash filed a complaint with the antimonopoly authorities, pointing to possible restrictions on competition. As a result, the mayor's office had to revise the documentation and re-announce the competition.
The maximum capacity of the Kastor tram is 261 passengers, of which 64 seats are for seating. The car has a special place for passengers with limited mobility, as well as a ramp for easy boarding and disembarking. In addition, the tram is equipped with an air conditioning system in the passenger compartment with a climate control function, and the driver's cab is also equipped with air conditioning.
Now, with the victory of UKVZ, Yekaterinburg is preparing to receive modern trams. The equipment must be delivered to the city by January 31, 2026, which will be a significant contribution to the development of public transport.
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UKVZ Received First Order for 71-639 "Kastor" Low-Floor Tram