Russia: A fleet of five three-section bi-directional LRVs has entered passenger service on one of the city’s routes. The Ust-Katav Car-Building Plant (UKCP), together with the regional Ministry of Roads and Transport, has developed the 71-638-02 Altair specifically for Chelyabinsk.
The vehicle has two driver’s cabs, two double and two single doors on each side and a folding pantograph, as it is designed to operate on Chelyabinsk’s metrotram network, which is expected to be launched next year.
The contract valued at RUB 995 mln (USD 12.4 mln, or RUB 199 mln (USD 2.5 mln) per unit) for the delivery of five such trams was signed last summer. This year, the city plans to purchase another 12 LRVs, with seven more trams in 2027, according to Andrey Ksenzov, Head of the Ministry of Roads and Transport of the Chelyabinsk region.
The low-floor 27 m tram can accommodate up to 288 passengers, including 66 seated and two places for people with reduced mobility. A full tram can reportedly pass slopes autonomously for 1.5 km. The vehicles are fitted with multimedia interactive displays for passenger information and an energy-efficient system for temperature control.
