Signatories of the contract on the procurement of 15 new trams: a historical moment for the citizens of Sarajevo

After today's signing of the Agreement on the procurement of 15 new low-floor trams, the Minister of Transport KS Adnan Šteta with the representatives of Stadler, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held a working meeting on further steps of the Agreement. Recall, the loan of these banks of 34 million euros will purchase 15 trams, the first will arrive in September 2023, and all the rest by the summer of 2024. Minister Šteta also reminded of the procurement of 25 new trolleybuses that should arrive in Sarajevo at the beginning of next year.

”The citizens of Sarajevo will feel the significance of today's Agreement when, after a decade of waiting, they finally get the public transport they deserve. With the reconstruction of the tram line, the purchase of trolleybuses and trams, we continue with large projects and investments that will create a new, modern face of Sarajevo. In addition to these 15, we have already agreed on the procurement of additional trams and trolleybuses. We are working on expanding the tram network towards Hrasnica and the trolleybus network towards Vogošća. We calculate that by the end of 2025, we will be able to renew the full capacity of public transport as well as the necessary traffic infrastructure”, said Minister Šteta.

In her address, the Director of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Sandrine Friscia pointed out that this Agreement is the result of good and successful work of the teams of Sarajevo Canton and the EIB.

”I am glad to see that the EIB's investments directly change people's lives for the better, because the new trams will reduce travel time and the number of traffic accidents. Our bank wants to help the region move to more sustainable transport, which results in a cleaner environment and the ability to better mitigate climate change”, said Friscia.

On behalf of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Josip Polić greeted those present and commented on more than 10 years of successful cooperation of this Bank with the Sarajevo Canton. He pointed out seven projects realized so far in the total amount of 140 million euros, and most of the projects are related to traffic infrastructure.

Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, a representative of the company Stadler, which is the manufacturer of these trams, assessed the signing of this Agreement as a historic moment due to the long history that Sarajevo has in tram traffic. ”Sarajevo has not purchased new trams for a very long time, since the 1960s. This is the first time, after several previous purchases of used trams, that, with this historic investment, Sarajevo will get new trams”, said Brockmeyer, whose company has so far delivered 1.400 trams across Europe. He underlined the most important technical characteristics of the tram, greater door width, easier entry into the tram with low access, more flexible wheels that will reduce vibrations with the lowest pressure on the rails and thus achieve almost noiseless movement, but also extend the life of the track and old buildings near rails. The consumption of smaller amounts of energy, the energy efficiency of new trams, was especially emphasized. Vlada Kantona Sarajevo