The first tram from Croatia arrived in Zhytomyr

A tram from the Croatian city of Osijek has arrived in Zhytomyr as part of six trams that the community received. The wagon underwent a test run without passengers, during which specialists checked its technical characteristics, traffic safety, and readiness for operation on local infrastructure. This was reported by Suspilne, referencing the Zhytomyr Tram and Trolleybus Management.

The first Croatian tram passed testing on the route

The test run took place on June 3. Only employees of the tram and trolleybus management were on board, assessing the transport's performance on Zhytomyr tracks.

According to the director of the Tram and Trolleybus Management, Serhiy Lazarev, the tram received a technical passport and underwent the necessary preparations before hitting the route.

He noted that the trams gifted to Zhytomyr are somewhat wider than the local rolling stock. As a result, the municipal workers had to adapt part of the infrastructure.

«Croatian trams are a bit wider than the ones we operate. Specifically, they are 30 centimeters wider: 15 centimeters on each side. So we had to modify our technical infrastructure somewhat,» Lazarev said.

The trams were manufactured in Czechoslovakia and modernized in Croatia

The trams were produced in the former Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and 1980s. After that, they operated in the Croatian city of Osijek.

In 2006-2007, the rolling stock was modernized, and before being transferred to Ukraine, the trams were additionally serviced and prepared for operation.

During the tests, TPTU employees checked the turning, the operation of the contact network, the convenience of boarding and alighting for passengers, as well as the driver's control comfort.

All six trams are planned to be launched by the end of June

The deputy head of the depot, Serhiy Korniichuk, reported that the test run from the depot to Victory Square proceeded without any emergency situations.

«So far, we are satisfied. The next runs will be more specific, and we will soon be able to launch these trams on a regular basis,» he said.

As of early June, 11 trams are operational on the routes of Zhytomyr. After all tests are completed, the city plans to put into operation six more trams from Croatia by the end of June 2026.

It should be noted that around 15 kg of mercury was discovered in Zhytomyr on private property.