Trolleybuses in Vilnius



The Vilnius trolleybus system is the one of two existing trolleybus systems in Lithuania. It operates in the capital city of Vilnius, the municipal operator company is Vilniaus viešasis transportas Ltd. 188 trolleybuses are working on working-days, 106 - on weekends.

History
In October 1956, Vilnius Trolleybus Board was established and a 7.8 km long contact network was built, together with a trolleybus park for 25 trolleybuses. In November 1956, first model "MTB-82D" trolleybuses started to work and drove on route "Antakalnis–Railway station".

In 1981, the trolleybus count doubled the maximum service power of the old trolleybus park, thus, encouraging a construction of the second park. The second trolleybus park was opened on 28 December 1985, in the neighborhood of Viršuliškės and it could maintain 150 trolleybuses.

In April 1993, the board was reorganized to UAB "Vilniaus Autobusai" and the owner of the new company was the Vilnius city municipality. From the treasury of the municipality, new "Škoda" trolleybuses were bought in 1996–1999.

From 2004 to 2006, 45 new Polish trolleybuses "Solaris Trollino 15AC" were bought.

On 4 November 2011, the company was again reorganized and incorporated into UAB "Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas".

In 2012, new Lithuanian "MAZ-ETON Amber 203T Vilnis 12AC" trolleybuses were made and bought by the company.

In 2018 and 2019, 41 "Solaris Trollino 12" trolleybuses were bought.

In 2023, 91 Škoda 32Tr SOR trolleybuses were bought. These vehicles are set to replace the aging Škoda 14Tr, as some units date back to 1986. The new vehicles are set to be fully air-conditioned and with the addition of onboard traction batteries, the vehicles can travel up to 20 km without the overhead catenary. Later in 2024 or early 2025, Vilnius will place another order for 68 new Tri-axle trolleybuses, which will replace the last of the 14Trs.

Currently used

 * Škoda 14Tr - 149 units, since 1984
 * Škoda 14TrM - 23 units, since 1999
 * Škoda 15Tr – 3 units, since 1991
 * Solaris Trollino II 15AC – 45 units, since 2004
 * Amber 203T Vilnis 12AC – 2 units, since 2012
 * Solaris Trollino IV 12 Škoda – 41 units, since 2018
 * Škoda 32Tr SOR – 20 units + 71 on order, since 2024

Formerly used

 * MTB-82D – 63 units, 1956-?
 * Škoda 8Tr – 15 units, 1960-?
 * Škoda 9Tr - many units, 1967-2006
 * Gräf & Stift GE110 – 2 units, 1992-1999
 * Jelcz PNTKM – 1 unit, 1998-2011
 * Škoda 11Tr – 1 unit, 2000
 * Belkamunmash AKSM-420 Vitovt – 1 unit, 2010