Students criticize new bus route in Yekaterinburg

From 1 February 2026, changes to the public transport network came into effect in Yekaterinburg.

The Department of Transport cancelled bus route No. 25, which ran from the city centre through the ZhBI microdistrict to the University Technopark. In its place, trolleybus No. 25 now runs along the VIZ – city centre – ZhBI section, and bus No. 94 connects UrFU, ZhBI, the technopark, and the Novo-Sverdlovsk Thermal Power Plant.

It is route No. 94 that has sparked a wave of indignation among students who travel daily to the technopark for classes. Instead of the usual large buses, medium-class vehicles that are significantly less spacious have been put on the line.

A student named Alexander shared his impressions:

«I am studying in the Professionalitet vocational program. Our specialised subjects are taught at the technopark because that«s where the equipment for my specialisation is. In January we used to go there at 8–9 a.m. on bus No. 25, — Alexander said. — The cabin was packed with passengers, and I literally fell out of the door at stops. And now we students have been switched to No. 94. The passenger flow hasn»t changed, but the buses have gotten smaller!»

Additional criticism was directed at the schedule. Early trips of route No. 94 that depart before 07:30 do not enter the technopark grounds, so students have to get off on the highway and walk to the academic buildings through the forest.

Alexander also complained about another situation:

«On Monday the bus arrived 20 minutes late, and there was already a big crowd of students. And then, near the Professorskaya stop, elderly women started getting on and pushing us.»

The Ural Polytechnic College, where the students study, filed a complaint with the city hall. The city«s Department of Transport reported that they are looking into the complaints about route No. 94.

«A number of meetings have been held, including with the college. Next week the number of buses will be increased, and accordingly, the intervals between them will be reduced,» the department assured.

Currently, only three buses operate on route No. 94. During the morning and evening rush hours, they are overcrowded, while during the day the vehicles often run half-empty.

These adjustments are part of a large-scale transport reform that has been implemented in Yekaterinburg since 2024 under the supervision of Deputy Mayor Rustam Galyamov.