During the summer the number of trolleybus passengers traditionally drops, but this summer, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the numbers have dropped even more. Even so, the number of trolleybuses operating on the streets is bigger than last summer, and from September 1 it will be further increased.

Dorin Ciornîi, director of the Chisinau Electric Transport Company (RTEC), said that when the pandemic started, some 320 trolleybuses were put in operation to avoid crowding. During the summer, the number of passenger has dropped, and so the number of vehicles in operation has been reduced to 290. Even so, this is by 60 vehicles more than last summer.

“We are working at our full capacity, but we have to understand that there is a technological process. We need to ready the vehicles for September 1 (when school traditionally starts). Moreover, many employees of our Company are on holiday now,” said Ciornîi, adding that beginning on September 1 the number of trolleybuses in operation will be supplemented back to 320 and more.

35 new trolleybuses are expected to be assembled by the end of the year. The first five of them, which will be articulated and carry 160 passengers each, will be in use already in September.

As passenger numbers have dropped and trolleybuses operated without ticket conductors for a while, RTEC missed some 20 million lei in income.