Bishkek Activists Demand Comeback for City’s Scrapped Trolleybuses

As Bishkek prepares to introduce its first fleet of electric buses, local activists are mounting a legal campaign to save the city’s trolleybus system from complete dismantlement. Municipality’s Modernization Push The first two electric buses from China’s Anhui Ankai Automobile Co. have already arrived in Bishkek and will soon begin operating on city routes. In total, the city has procured 120 electric buses, with the remaining 118 expected to be delivered by May, according to Daiyrbek Orunbekov, head of information policy at the President’s Office. Orunbekov said the new vehicles will replace outdated public transport and help improve the capital’s environmental conditions. “City streets used to be clogged with shuttle buses, and the roads were in disarray. Now modern buses are replacing minibuses. Last year, the roads were reconstructed and old trolleybus lines dismantled. Some residents were initially unhappy, but electric buses, more spacious and comfortable, are now on the routes,” he explained. A Contested Phase-Out Despite these upgrades, the decision to remove trolleybus lines has sparked a backlash. Bishkek residents and activists have sued the mayor’s office, arguing that officials acted without proper authorization in dismantling the network. All trolleybus lines in Bishkek were removed in a short period. Of the remaining fleet, 100 trolleybuses, many still under loan repayment, were transferred to Osh, six to Naryn, and 42 remain parked on the outskirts of the capital. Meanwhile, Kyrgyz MP Ulan Bishimbayev has announced that the authorities plan to retrofit some of the old trolleybuses with batteries to convert them into electric buses. One pilot project is already underway. “We invited specialists who confirmed it was possible. One trolleybus is being remodeled in pilot mode and should be launched within 10 days,” Bishimbayev said. Legal Battle and Environmental Concerns The next court hearing on the trolleybus issue is scheduled for April 9 at the Bishkek City Court. Activists argue that trolleybuses, powered by a network of 19 existing substations, remain one of the most sustainable forms of transport. “Trolleybus wires are a consumable material that needs replacement every 20 years. The challenge of restoring them is manageable. What matters are the substations, and they are still intact,” activist Bermet Borubayeva told The Times of Central Asia. She also questioned the narrative that the old system was outdated. “A representative from the president’s staff claimed the trolleybuses were outdated and would be replaced with electric buses. But that’s misleading. The trolleybuses bought with a €23.5 million European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan just six years ago are still modern, with a service life of 20 years,” she said. Borubayeva also pointed out that the batteries used in electric buses typically last only 5-10 years and pose environmental risks when recycled. According to earlier electrification plans approved by European lenders, Bishkek was expected to combine trolleybus and electric bus networks. However, city authorities have opted for a different course.

Naryn Becomes Latest Kyrgyz City to Dismantle Trolleybus System

A year after trolleybus lines in Naryn were damaged, local authorities have decided to permanently abandon this mode of transportation, replacing it with buses. Efforts to restore the lines proved unsuccessful, even after six trolleybuses were transferred from Bishkek to Naryn.  Naryn’s city council has now voted to completely dismantle the trolleybus system, following the precedent set by Bishkek, which also removed its trolleybus lines. Lawmakers cited the deteriorating condition of Naryn’s trolleybus infrastructure and high maintenance costs as the primary reasons for their decision. Financial and Logistical Challenges After Bishkek replaced its trolleybuses with buses, most of its fleet was transferred to Osh, while six trolleybuses were sent to Naryn. Some of these vehicles remain in storage on a military base. Located at an altitude of 2,000 meters in southeastern Kyrgyzstan, Naryn’s trolleybus system was once considered a point of pride and a tourist attraction. However, the city now lacks the financial resources to repair the trolleybus infrastructure. According to city officials, the trolleybuses received from Bishkek were already in poor condition, requiring spare parts from Russia, which would entail significant financial costs. The Naryn city administration estimates that at least KGS 1 billion ($12 million) would be needed just to restore the damaged trolleybus lines. Shift to Alternative Transportation Currently, private taxis are the primary means of public transportation in Naryn. These taxis operate informally, picking up passengers at bus stops and following fixed routes for a small fare. Last summer, the Naryn mayor’s office attempted to modernize the city’s transport system by purchasing five electric buses. Following Naryn’s decision, Osh will now be the only city in Kyrgyzstan that still operates a trolleybus system.