Rostov Authorities Calculate Real Cost of Tram and Trolleybus Travel

Rostov authorities have sharply increased the tariff for passenger transportation in trolleybuses and trams. The regulation was issued in late January and has already taken effect. However, the actual fare for electric transport has not been touched yet.

This refers to the economically justified tariff. It is the amount that, according to calculations, it actually costs the company to transport one passenger. The difference between this figure and the actually effective tariff is compensated to the carrier from the budget.

The previous economically justified tariff for electric transport in Rostov was set at the end of 2025. It was 43.6 rubles (about $0.44 at current rates) per trip in a trolleybus and 64.3 rubles (about $0.64 at current rates) in a tram. Both types of transport in Rostov are used by only one carrier — Rostovskaya Transportnaya Kompaniya (Rostov Transport Company), which is owned by the city.

Now the economically justified tariff has been increased to 72.5 rubles (approximately $0.73 at current rates) for trolleybus and to 79.6 rubles (approximately $0.80 at current rates) for tram.

Note that the fare increase in public transport, which occurred at the end of 2025, did not affect electric transport. A bus now costs 48 rubles (about $0.48 at current rates), while trolleybus and tram remain at 34 rubles (about $0.34 at current rates).

As reported by 161.RU, trolleybus transportation in Rostov has been recognized as inefficient and in low demand. This is partly due to the very high degree of network wear. In this regard, authorities have been recommended to significantly reduce the number of trolleybus routes by 2030, replacing them with buses.

As for the tram, the prospects for further implementation of the project by the company «Sinara» are currently under question.