“The continuation of our long-term cooperation with the Ústí nad Labem Transport Company is an important step for us. The new Škoda 33Tr trolleybuses are among the most modern vehicles in their category and will offer passengers a high level of comfort and safety, thanks in particular to the use of many innovative technologies,” says Karel Majer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Electric in the Škoda Group.

“We are delighted to be able to continue renewing our fleet and, at the same time, to start regularly modernising our company’s vehicles. The latest contract for the supply of Škoda 33Tr trolleybuses is clear proof of this. We greatly appreciate that we were able to conclude a contract with a reliable partner who has extensive experience in the production of trolleybuses and a long tradition in our city,” said Simona Mohacsi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Dopravní podnik města Ústí nad Labem a.s.

 

The 18-metre Škoda 33Tr articulated trolleybuses will be equipped with traction batteries with a range of at least 12 kilometres outside the catenary network, which will enable the transport company to serve locations without trolleybus infrastructure. For reliable operation in the hilly terrain of Ústí nad Labem, the vehicles are equipped with two driven axles. Passengers can look forward to a fully air-conditioned interior, modern information and ticketing systems, CCTV surveillance and double insulation glazing, which contributes to better temperature comfort for passengers and reduces the energy consumption of the vehicle. The equipment also includes a CCS socket for cable charging.

From a technical point of view, an interesting feature is the use of the so-called eye-mirror system, which replaces conventional rear-view mirrors with cameras, thereby increasing traffic safety and expanding the driver’s field of vision. The same technology is also used in trolleybuses supplied by Škoda Group to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

Technical parameters of the Škoda 33Tr trolleybus (Ústí nad Labem)

• Vehicle length: 18 m
• Vehicle width: 55 m
• Vehicle height: 3.4 m
• Drive: two traction electric motors on both drive axles
• Maximum drive power: 2×160 kW (total 320 kW)
• Power supply voltage from overhead lines: 600 V DC
• Traction battery capacity: 57 kWh (enables a range of 12 km without overhead lines)
• Entry height: 320 mm above the road surface (low-floor design)
• Doors: four double-leaf low-floor doors for quick boarding and alighting
• Air conditioning: separate for passenger and driver areas
• Double insulated glazing: contributes to better temperature comfort for passengers
• Information and ticketing system: modern LED/LCD panels, acoustic announcements and ticketing terminals
• Safety features: camera system inside and outside, eye-mirror system replacing rear-view mirrors, anti-collision system, passenger counting system

Ústí nad Labem has one of the youngest trolleybus operations in the Czech Republic. It was launched in 1988 and has become the backbone of public transport over more than three decades. Today’s network of trolleybus lines covers most of the city and provides service even in hilly areas where other types of transport are more difficult to operate, and the network is continuing to expand. At the end of 2024, the Ústí nad Labem Transport Company had a fleet of 75 trolleybuses, all supplied by Škoda Group. In 2024, two of the three stages of the trolleybus network modernisation were launched, with completion continuing this year. Thanks to the increase in the number of battery trolleybuses, it has been possible to strengthen environmentally friendly operation and improve transport accessibility in the outlying parts of the city with high-capacity vehicles. The new Škoda 33Tr vehicles will continue this tradition and contribute to the further development of modern and sustainable urban transport in Ústí nad Labem.

 

Offensive in Škoda trolleybus deliveries in the Czech Republic and abroad

In recent months, Škoda Group has significantly strengthened its activities in the supply of trolleybuses, confirming its leading position in the European market for zero-emission mobility. For example, it has signed a framework agreement for the supply of up to 20 32Tr trolleybuses for Jihlava, 14 of which will be battery-powered. In Chomutov and Jirkov, it will supply up to 8 articulated 33Tr battery trolleybuses. It also recently signed contracts to supply up to 31 32Tr and 33Tr battery trolleybuses for Hradec Králové and up to 16 26Tr battery trolleybuses for Ostrava. A significant international success is the contract for 46 trolleybuses for Esslingen, Germany, where Škoda trolleybuses will run with a battery range of up to 25 kilometres. All these orders confirm the confidence of Czech and foreign transport companies in the quality and reliability of Pilsen products.