In Bulgaria, the pilot action will take place in Ruse
Ruse is the biggest Bulgarian city on the Danube River and the most significant transport, logistics, business and cultural centre of North Bulgaria with a population of 135 440 citizens.
From June 2024, Municipal Transport Ruse fully takes over the public transport of passengers in the city. The city's transport network includes 7 trolleybus and 17 bus lines and Municipal Transport Ruse serves all these lines. There are no night lines at this time.
Fleet of Municipal Transport Ruse includes 88 vehicles: 22 trolleybuses HESS/NAW, 15 new low-floor air-conditioned trolleybuses SOR TNS 12, 20 new low-floor air-conditioned electric buses SOR EBN 9.5, 22 air-conditioned low-floor VanHool convection buses (Euro 5), 10 low-floor MAN convection buses. Video surveillance and a passenger counting system have been installed in the new vehicles.
Bus stops are equipped with information boards. The electronic traveling card can be purchased and when traveling it must be validated on the on-board validators with which all vehicles are equipped. Tickets can be purchased from the driver.
Like other cities, Ruse is struggling to reduce transport-related GHG emissions. In the previous decade, the negative trend towards car use should be redirected back to the types of active mobility, but also to (the new forms of) public transport. The transport fleet of Municipal Transport Ruse has currently low emissions due to a big share of trolleybuses and electric buses in the fleet, nevertheless the plans are to purchase more new electric vehicles.
