Moscow started a comprehensive renewal programme for its extensive tramway network already a few years ago. Now, more than have of the fleet has already been replaced by modern, Russian-built low-floor vehicles. The most wide-spread model now is the 71-931 M – Vityaz Moscow, a three-section, single-ended 100% low-floor tramcar designed by LLC “PK Transportnye Sistemy” (PK TS) and manufactured in a joint venture operation between PK TS and Transmashholding in Tver.
400 of the vehicles are already operating on 25 lines of the Moscow network, another 43 are yet to come by the end of 2022.
For lines with lower passenger demand, 90 single-section, four-axle tramcars were ordered from the consortium Sinara-Transportnye Mashiny (STM), they were to be manufactured by subcontractors. The single-section model 71-911EM offered has a total capacity of 110 passengers, 40 of which are seated. A pre-production tramcar of this model was already delivered to the capital in April 2021. However, as further delivery did not start on time, after several months of delay and varios complaints, Mosgotrans eventually cancelled the contract. The contract was re-tendered and awarded to PK Transportnye Sistemy, which has since already delivered 40 vehicles so far.
These new vehicles replace, among others, large numbers of Tatra T3SU four-wheel trams which face the end of their operating live, often after more than 30 years of service in Moscow’s particularly harsh winter conditions. By 2023 all Moscow trams should be low-floor.