Volchansk - the smallest city in Russia with tram

Volchanskiy tram - the main form of transport that connects the southern and northern part of the city Volchansk (Sverdlovsk region). The city's population is about 10 thousand inhabitants. Tram operates from December 31, 1951. The system consists of a line length of about 7-8 km.

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2. Tram movement Volchansk opened December 31, 1951. While Volchansk not yet have the status of the city (he received it only in 1956), but the population has reached thirty thousand inhabitants.



3. In the past Volchansk had two urban tramway lines: on the forest lupus and coal mine № 5. The last line was closed in 1994 due to the constant theft of the contact wire. There was also a long distance to the tram line Karpinsk, which operated from 1953 to 22 April 1965, ferrying exploded because of its course in Volchansk Karpinsk huge excavator EVG-15 on the road between the two cities.



4. Volchanskiy tram consists of one line connecting the southern and northern parts of the city. The length of the line - about 7-8 kilometers. Single-track line, pre-existing patrols completely disassembled. The tram route passes through the overgrown meadows and taiga.



5. Ways worn, but volchantsy to service routes, as far as possible with the existing materials, machinery and tools: resurfacing paths replacing sleepers, smoothing joints in curves, the installation of shunts. The case of retirement coaches, but recently such cases has decreased.



6. Tram depot located in the southern part of the city is the final destination of the route. It is a one-story office building, a brick box on the two cars, industrial site for parking trams and utility room.



7. Since May 2010, the motion stops for the period from 10:00 to 16:00. Initially the tram carried the day because of the difficulties with payment of electricity (the electricity was shut off during the day at traction substation). Then, even after the repayment of debt, it was decided not to release the tram during the day, as passenger traffic at this time is quite low.



8. Rolling has two carriages 71-605 (hull numbers 7 and 8), the car 71-608KM (board number 1), 71-402 wagon "SPECTRUM" (hull number 2) and the car 71-619KT (tail number 3) . Last arrived in the city in January 2008. Thus, Volchansk completely renewed its rolling stock and does not have problems with the shortage of wagons.



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10. Passenger cars equipped with T-bar current collector, due to the peculiarities of contact network. The depot remained on the platform of the car KTM-1, which is fastened to the passenger cars, volchantsy used to transport materials and tools to work places on the way. As a warehouse used car body MTV-82.



11. In 2009 the depot was snowblower GS-4 (presumably having no side number) once plundered by non-ferrous metal. Volchantsy planned to restore the car, but the plans were not implemented: the car was eventually dismantled. Snow cleaning tractor produced.



12. According to local legend, was brought in a Volchansk Guinness Book of Records as the smallest town in the world, which has its own tram. This story originally told the guests themselves volchantsy city, where it has become a popular bike in the city and beyond. Currently, many stories about the city and even the official website of the city administration created in 2010 mistakenly mention this "fact."



13. Correcting this error, head of the city in 2008 organized a fundraiser, head of the municipal tram services of the city has prepared documents and March 30, 2009 Volchansk was entered into the record books in Russia, which officially confirmed that the city - "the smallest city with tram ".



14. With regard to the Guinness Book of Records, it is thought to apply were, however, found a city in Germany - Bad Schandau - with a population of about 3 thousand people, which also has its own tram. There is a tram route passes through eight settlements and is not in fact public transport. The analysis of the situation suggests that Volchansk is the smallest most northern city with a tram.



15. In addition to the tram in Volchansk operates passenger transport: taxi and bus, belonging to the same carrier and operating on the route "Volchansk - Karpinsk" duplicating almost completely tram route and passenger taxis.



16. As the city administration has ceased since 2009 to ensure reasonable competition, the operational speed of the vehicle is higher than the tram, as well as due to the fact that the taxi and buses are twice as likely than the tram, passengers are often the choice of solvent is not in favor of Tram.



17. However, the tram was in Volchansk certain standard of stability and permanence: consistently respected the timetable, quickly (as possible) corrected a fault in the way, even in extremely low passenger traffic in the early morning and late evening flights tram fleet management does not intend to cancel these flights.



18. The organizational changes triggered by the financial difficulties in 2010, questioned the future of the municipal enterprise and as a result, the tram in the city. To operate the tram requires large investments (in activities such as repair of tram rails, contact lines, rolling stock, electricity bill, and so on).



19. There are concerns that if in 2011 from the regional budget will be allocated no funds for maintenance of the tram, the electrical transport in Volchansk may stop.



20. However, in 2011 from the regional budget was allocated little money to work in the tram Volchansk, but this amount of money is so small that barely manage to maintain the tram facilities in working order.



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