EBRD lends Vilnius EUR38 million for new trolleybuses

VILNIUS - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and its partners are lending up to 38.23 million euros to Vilnius for the purchase of 91 new trolleybuses, under the agreement signed by the Vilnius authorities, Vilniaus Viesasis Transportas (Vilnius Public Transport, VVT), a municipal public transport enterprise, and the EBRD on Tuesday. 

"It is a very important project with the will contribute to developing sustainable mobility in the city and help to make transport greener, more efficient and more accessible to all users," Susan Goeransson, who leads the EBRD's Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure team, told reporters before signing the contract.

The EBRD is lending up to 30.58 million euros of its own funds, and a further 7.65 million euros will come from Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund. VVT has also secured a further 10 million euros under the Climate Change Program.

Outgoing Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius says public transport in Vilnius is one of the most electrified in the world, but old trolleybuses are constantly receiving complaints from passengers. 

VVT plans to buy 91 trolleybuses for 48 million euros over two years. 

VVT still operates 160 Skoda trolleybuses with an average age of 31 years. The average age of all trolleybuses in Vilnius stands around 23 years. Vilnius plans to upgrade its entire fleet of trolleybuses by 2026 for the average age to exceed just two years.