Russia: On 6 February, the low-floor 71-233A was put into service on a route in the city of Yekaterinburg. The vehicle had previously undergone trial runs without passengers and received a certificate of compliance over a three-year period.
Sinara – Transport Machines, STM, has been developing the 71-233 Sinara model for several years, with the first full-scale prototype unveiled at INNOPROM 2025. As stated by STM, the 71-233A tram boasts the maximum passenger capacity in its class and can accommodate 297 people. The interior includes 70 seats, and 65% of them have level-floor accessibility. The tram features a fully welded, all-steel load-bearing body frame with the integration of composite materials.
A number of innovative solutions have been developed specifically for the new tram, in particular a wheel flange lubrication system and a low-floor bogie with an adjustable suspension system and the externally installed motor-reduction drive unit. These innovations are reported to provide a 20% reduction of noise and 15% energy saving, at the same time minimising the rail wear in comparison with the existing models. The rolling stock for Yekaterinburg is equipped with a bogie for operation on 1,524 mm gauge tracks, while another 71-233 tram fitted with a 1,435 mm bogie has been sent for trial runs in Rostov-on-Don.
