«The condition is critical»: ₴300 million is needed to replace part of the tram tracks in Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv needs 300 million hryvnias to replace 15 kilometres of tram tracks. This is 20% of the total length of the city's tram tracks.

The city authorities are currently looking for a donor to finance the purchase of the necessary materials, according to the DREAM digital system.

«The state of the tram infrastructure, including the rail bed, is at a critical level. Most of the rails that are currently in operation have expired or exceeded their service life — sometimes more than 40-50 years», it says.

In a commentary to NikVesti, Yurii Smetana, director of the utility company «Mykolaivelektrotrans», said that almost the entire length of the tram tracks — 65 kilometres — needs to be replaced. However, he added that the first priority is to replace 15 kilometres of the most worn-out sections.

«In total, there are 69 kilometres of rails in Mykolaiv. In recent years, we have replaced about 2.5-3 kilometres. Maybe less, give or take. We need to repair all 60-65 kilometres of rails. But, of course, it is unrealistic to do this in one year.

We have some sections that are more worn out, some that can still work for 5-10 years. That is why we have written a request for 300 million hryvnias to replace 15 kilometres. This is primarily what is in poor condition,» said Yurii Smetana.

He explained that the donor's funds will be used to purchase rails, sleepers, and consumables, while the tram tracks will be replaced by the company's employees.

«We hope that we will be able to find a donor who will be willing to buy rails, sleepers and consumables for the city and for our enterprise. And all the work, as we have been doing for years, will be carried out by our company's specialists,» said Yurii Smetana.

Repair of tram tracks in Mykolaiv

The municipal enterprise «Mykolaivelektrotrans» has been repairing tram tracks in the city for the past few years.

In 2024, it completed the repair of the tracks on Potemkinska Street from 3rd Slobidska Street to the park «Narodnyi Sad».

After that, 7.5 million hryvnias were spent on landscaping and tiling near the repaired tracks on Potemkinska Street (from 3a Slobidska Street to 1a Voienna Street).

Back in 2023, the City Council's Department of Housing and Communal Services ordered the repair of three blocks of the road along Potemkinska Street (from Sadova to 3rd Slobidska) for 8.8 million hryvnias.

And in 2020, the repair of a seven-block section of the road along Potemkinska Street from Liahina Street to Sadova Street cost the city budget 8.2 million hryvnias.