Trolleybus No4 to Return to Service if Tomsk Technical University Produces a Driver
In the heart of Tomsk, city officials have left the door open for the possibility of reinstating the trolleybus route No. 4 – but only if the Tramway-Trolleybus Administration (TTA) manages to beef up their driver ranks. In response to questions from deputies during a city administration report, Mayor Dmitry Mahinya confirmed that the "4" line currently remains on reserve. However, TTA's staffing issues have cropped up once more, and solving this driver enlistment conundrum is vital if the route is to hit the streets again.
Previously, The Mayor's office had placed the trolleybus route No. 4 on ice due to dismal profitability and an unstable ridership flow. The route, running from the Govorova Street to the Tomsk-1 station via Lenin Prospect and Kirov Prospect, had been a regular fixture until its shutdown.
When pressed about the potential revival of route No. 4, Mayor Mahinya commented, "As things stand today, the trolleybus route No. 4 remains a reserve option. However, we encounter a persistent problem with our TTA staffing. A pay hike has helped improve the situation somewhat... Now, it's back to the crunch of staffing matters – training trolleybus drivers. If we can tackle the staffing issue, there's nothing stopping us from deploying route No. 4."
Elaborating further on the interim assignment of drivers for Tomsk's route No. 6A with three "Admirals" (the nickname for the trolleybuses), Mayor Mahinya added, "We needed to allocate drivers specifically to this route, leading to the current state of route No. 4 remaining on reserve."
Recently, the TTA has embarked on a gradual salary increase initiative. Beginning in February 2025, all staff members saw an 8% boost in their wages, while trolleybus drivers got a 22% bump. Trolleybus drivers operating trams, meanwhile, can anticipate a 15% wage increase.
In the realm of potential staffing strategies, it might prove beneficial for TTA to partner with local educational institutions for ongoing driver training programs, introduce digital platforms for route planning and passenger updates, and closely reexamine recruitment methods to attract a more diverse pool of talented candidates. Ultimately, the liberation of route No. 4 may boil down to the TTA mastering the art of staff management and attracting a stellar team of drivers.
- The main issue that needs to be addressed for the reinstatement of trolleybus route No. 4 in Tomsk is the staffing problem in the Tramway-Trolleybus Administration (TTA).
- Mayor Dmitry Mahinya has stated that, while trolleybus route No. 4 is currently a reserve option, solving the driver enlistment conundrum is crucial for its revival.
- In response to staffing issues, the TTA has initiated a gradual salary increase, with a 22% bump for trolleybus drivers starting in February 2025.
- For a long-term solution to staffing matters, it may be advantageous for TTA to collaborate with local educational institutions for continuous driver training programs, implement digital platforms for route planning and passenger updates, and reassess recruitment methods to draw a wider array of qualified candidates.
