Kursk was one of the first regions of Russia included in a large-scale program for the modernization of urban electric transport, which is being implemented by the Russian government with the support of VEB.RF. Its total budget is 252 billion rubles. The program is fully provided with all the necessary federal resources for the coming 2024 and subsequent periods.

The Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev noted that public transport in our country is becoming increasingly popular. “As the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin recently said, people choose it as faster and more economical mean of travel. In Russia, more than 10 billion people are transported annually by buses, trolleybuses and trams alone, the minister recalled. – The President of the country has set the task of modernizing the equipment and reducing the average age of the public transport fleet throughout Russia. It is necessary to increase the speed and comfort of travel."

The Governor of the Kursk Region Roman Starovoyt reported that during the year, more than 19 km of tram tracks were reconstructed, the contact network was completely replaced, 46 stopping platforms were equipped and 8 single-section tram cars “Lvenok” were supplied, which today go to service tram route No. 1. “The Tram travel will be free for 2 weeks. In preparation for the launch, the idea arose to give each of the 22 trams their own names. Proposals for the name were determined based on the results of voting by residents and will soon be placed on tram cars,” he said.

Deputy Chairman of VEB.RF Oleg Govorun: “The region is actively participating in the federal program for the modernization of urban electric transport. Residents and guests of the city will receive updated infrastructure and new trams in the shortest possible time. Eight carriages arrived in the city and already entered service in March. By the end of 2024, another 14 new trams, financed by VEB.RF, will arrive in the city. As a result, Kursk will receive a modern and convenient tram system. The concessionaire’s obligations are also stipulated to make new stopping spaces and modern lighting, and to carry out landscaping on the territory.”

The budget of the project in Kursk is 12.9 billion rubles, the volume of participation of VEB.RF, including funds from the National Welfare Fund, is 8.2 billion rubles.

The city requires a complete replacement of the rail and network infrastructure, tram depot and rolling stock. As part of the modernization, 42.6 km of tram tracks are being updated, 8 traction substations and depots are being reconstructed, and 22 single-section “Lvenok” trams will be purchased. The first tram, specially designed for Kursk, arrived in the city back in March 2023, and local specialists are being trained on it.

The new ‘Lvenok’ trams have a number of advantages. It is expected that after completion of the work, the speed of trams will increase by almost 30% and the noise level will significantly decrease. According to the expert assessment of transport consultants, after the start of operation, an average of 8.5 million people per year will be able to use tram routes.

The project also includes the implementation of a digital platform. This will make it possible to implement traffic without traffic lights, control of dedicated lanes, and passengers will be able to control and pay for the trip through a mobile application.

Kursk is one of the ten cities in which the modernization of urban electric transport, with the support of VEB.RF, was approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. The curator of the program in the Russian government is Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko. On behalf of the government, VEB.RF is also the project office of the program. Private business is also participating in the program for updating public transport in cities.