New KAMAZ Mid-Size Bus Tested in Orenburg

Since February 3, a new KAMAZ-4290 mid-size bus has been operating in Orenburg, the manufacturer confirmed. From Monday to Friday until the end of February, it is undergoing test runs on route 21. Orenburg Mayor Albert Yumadilov earlier said about plans to acquire 25 such vehicles for the city.

The KAMAZ-4290 was created in September 2023: it has its own platform (length — 9 meters, full mass — 13 tons), seats up to 70 passengers. As with the new trolleybuses, whose acquisition is planned in the regional center in April, this bus has no steps and is equipped with an automatic kneeling system. Near the middle door, there is a mechanical ramp, and the cabin has space for a wheelchair.

The engine is in the rear overhang. It is equipped with an independent front suspension for a smooth ride, and the automatic six-speed gearbox has a built-in torque converter that extends the life of the brake pads. The manufacturer also cites as advantages an electronic braking system with ABS and stability control, disc brakes, a short wheelbase (4.5 meters), and high maneuverability.

Earlier, this bus underwent test drives in St. Petersburg, Yugra, and Kazan, and now it is operating not only in Orenburg but also in Kursk, Oryol, and Moscow Oblast.

Recall that during a live broadcast, Orenburg Mayor Albert Yumadilov called the transport problem the main one for the regional center. The same opinion is held by public figure Ilya Zotov, who included the regional center in the top 10 cities with the worst public transport.

In total, about 200 vehicles go on line daily in Orenburg (including «green crocodiles» — large buses that have a driver shortage problem). To stabilize the situation, at least 100 more buses are needed — their acquisition will depend on the financial situation, and a letter has been sent to the head of the Ministry of Construction, Alexander Polukhin, about the purchase of 25 vehicles of exactly the mid-size class — there are no problems with «drivers» for them.

We reported that the official«s favorite mode of transport is the trolleybus: by April, plans include purchasing 10 units and partially updating the infrastructure (here are the details, nothing new was said). This may take about 5 years.

— A city striving to become a million-plus city cannot rely solely on buses. But the situation with trolleybuses is even more difficult, and it is practically at the «baseboard level». […] We will not reach the volume of trolleybuses that existed in the Soviet Union in the next five years. But for existing routes, we will restore one more, — Yumadilov stated.

Some bus routes have been transferred to Leadercom because private operators abandoned them, but they too will update their rolling stock over time. The mayor believes that carriers need transparent conditions (so they can plan even the near future), and the city is not yet ready to switch to the «gross contract» system (the business gives the city all the revenue received from passengers, and in return receives compensation for the work performed).