'It's Warmer Outside': Volgograd Buses Freeze Without Heating
Passengers on Volgograd buses were among the first to feel the sharp cold snap forecast by meteorologists: according to them, the temperature inside the buses is almost no different from the weather outside. If in summer city residents were sweltering from the heat due to turned-off air conditioners, now they are freezing without a heating system that for some reason isn«t working.
Most of the indignation was caused by buses on the popular route No. 25. One reader claims to have never felt the heaters working.
«They just don»t turn on the heater, I don«t know if it»s broken or not. I can understand when it doesn«t work in one or two buses. But in all the buses, it»s so cold that your feet freeze terribly, the floor is icy. The windows freeze over so much that you have to struggle to wipe them to see where you«re going. And it»s like that everywhere, except for the driver«s seat—he»s the only one riding in warmth.«
It«s worth mentioning that for the maintenance and development of public transport, 16.4 billion rubles (approximately $182 million at current rates) have been allocated in the 2026 budget plan, according to documents. It is unknown whether the repair and operation of heating and cooling systems are included in the expenditure items, but compared to 2025, the amount has increased by about 2 billion rubles (approximately $22 million at current rates).
It«s also worth recalling the fare increase that city council deputies approved last year under the pretext of modernizing the fleet and improving transport quality. Whether this will affect the percentage of buses with working heaters and air conditioners remains unclear.
The editorial staff of V1.RU has asked the press service of the Volgograd administration to explain the reason for the freezing conditions in buses No. 25.
