Celebrating 80 Years of Odesa's Trolleybus System
80 years of Odesa's trolleybus!
On November 7, 1945, Odesa launched its first trolleybus route No. 1: “Railway Station — Leo Tolstoy Square.”
The inauguration of the trolleybus service marked a significant milestone in the city’s recovery after the German and Romanian occupation and the end of World War II. It was not just a transport project; it symbolized the return to peaceful life.
In fact, the trolleybus system was ready for launch as early as 1941: the line project was developed in 1940, the first vehicles arrived in the city, and 38 future drivers went to training in Kyiv.
However, the war disrupted these plans. Romanian occupiers destroyed the infrastructure, and the trolleybuses were taken away.
After Odesa was liberated, some of the vehicles were returned, restored, and they became the first to operate on the route that was supposed to open before the war.
Since then, 80 years have passed. The trolleybus has become not just a means of transportation; it has become a part of Odesa's identity, the daily rhythm of the city, its memory and future.
