RUSSIA: A 10-year agreement to finance, build and operate an inter-municipality tramway connecting Yekaterinburg with the neighbouring town of Verkhnyaya Pyshma was signed by Sverdlovsk oblast and the Verkhnepyshminskiy Tramway subsidiary of Movista-Regions on May 20.
Initial works for the 9 km route began last year. The line will have a fleet of 11 single-section low-floor trams and is being designed for commercial speeds of less than 24 km/h, giving a journey time of 20 to 30 min.
The southern terminus will be in the north of Yekaterinburg, with a physical connection to the city’s tramway, and the depot will be in Verkhnyaya Pyshma.
The project is expected to cost 1∙9bn roubles. This will be raised by the concessionaire, with national economic development institution VEB.RF providing a financial contribution within a year of the agreement being signed.
