Sarajevo new tram fleet has been officially celebrated on May 8, 2024, marking a new era of sustainable urban transport. A celebratory ride marked the debut of the state-of-the-art trams, attended by Adnan Steta, the Minister of Transport of the Sarajevo Canton, and Manuela Naessl, EBRD Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside Sandrine Friscia representative of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and many representatives of the local government and international organisations.
“We are proud that the Sarajevo new tram fleet is operating in our city. The new trams were bought with the money of all citizens and we are sure that such investments in public transport will significantly improve the quality of life in Sarajevo. I would like to thank all the individuals, institutions and all levels of government who support the development of the Sarajevo Canton and our projects”, the Minister of Transport Adnan Šteta said.
In 2021, Stadler and the Ministry of Transport of the Canton of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a EUR 34.74 million contract for the supply of 15 Tango NF3 trams which replace the existing rolling stock.
The new three-section trams are low-floor and have capacity for 180 passengers, including 79 seated. They are equipped with air-conditioning, a passenger information system, video surveillance for enhanced security, USB ports, and internal and external CCTV. The new trams are able to run at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. They are fully adapted for passengers with disabilities.
In addition to the completed reconstruction of the tram track from Ilidža to Marijin Dvor, the city is also implementing the projects including the acquisition of new trams and trolleybuses, the Kobilja Glava tunnel, which is currently being built, the tramway to Hrasnica is being expanded, as well as the trolleybus network to Vogošća.
Also, the implementation of the new traffic management project is ongoing, and in the coming months, the renovation of the trolleybus and tram depot is also expected to start. All these projects are implemented from international credit funds.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), provided a EUR 10 million loan under the Green Cities Initiative that paved the way for the acquisition of cutting-edge trams, aligning with Sarajevo’s vision for a greener, more efficient public transit system.
With congestion and air quality concerns looming large over the city, this significant investment is poised to alleviate traffic gridlocks and enhance the well-being of Sarajevo’s nearly half-million residents. The infusion of EUR146 million in EBRD financing, spanning new tram tracks, trolleybuses, and tramline extensions to areas like Hrasnica, underscores the Canton Government’s commitment to sustainable urban development.
“EBRD is pleased to have participated in improving the public transport system in Sarajevo through many great projects, including the first new trams in Sarajevo Canton after 40 years and an extension of the tramline to Hrasnica,” Manuela Naessl said.
The EBRD has previously financed the reconstruction of 25 km of tram tracks in the city. The European Investment Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Finance and Treasury have signed in 2021 a new contract to improve urban transport in the Sarajevo Canton. The EUR 40 million financing will modernise and extend the tram and trolley bus networks by replacing existing vehicles and building new tram lines and tracks.
Sarajevo tram network was launched in 1885 as a test line by the Austro-Hungarian imperial administration before installing the new technology in Vienna. Thanks to these safety trials for novel electricity and transport prototypes, Sarajevo had street lighting and a tram network even before the imperial capital and many other cities across Europe. The network didn’t stop working for over a century, even through the two world wars.
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