Altai locals voice concerns over the standard of Belarusian streetcars
In the heart of Siberia, Barnaul is set to receive new tram cars as part of its transport infrastructure upgrade program. The new 802E model tram cars, supplied by the Belarusian manufacturer BKM Holding Company, are scheduled for delivery in mid-July 2026 [1]. However, eight out of ten of these new trams have been placed under warranty repair due to assembly problems and technical malfunctions [2].
The trams, which are the first fully low-floor vehicles designed under sanctions, were initially intended to improve passenger comfort and safety [1]. However, the high rate of warranty repairs suggests significant quality control or manufacturing challenges during assembly [3]. The specific causes for these issues have not been publicly disclosed, but they appear to stem from deficiencies in assembly processes and technical malfunctions [1][3].
The head of the Altai region's Ministry of Transport, Andrey Podolyan, confirmed the warranty repair issues, stating that eight out of ten new Belarusian carriages are under repair [2]. The total cost of the upcoming supply of trams is 742 million rubles [2].
Another challenge facing the new Belarusian carriages is the lack of readiness of local specialists to service modern trams [4]. This issue, however, does not seem to be directly linked to the warranty repair problems.
The new trams are designed to be low-floor vehicles, but some problems are also linked to the poor condition of tracks that do not meet the requirements for low-floor vehicles [5]. The condition of the tracks has not been further specified in the available sources.
Despite the challenges, all identified malfunctions in the 802E model tram cars have been rectified within the warranty period [6]. The remaining trams, along with 23 trolleybuses, are still scheduled to be supplied from Belarus [7].
Sources:
[1] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [2] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [3] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [4] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [5] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [6] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html [7] https://www.regnum.ru/news/3932478.html
- The warranty repair issues with the new 802E tram cars, which are a part of the public-transit transportation infrastructure in Barnaul, Siberia, indicate significant challenges in the assembly process and quality control within the finance and industry sectors.
- Although the new low-floor Belarusian trams were designed to improve passenger comfort and safety, the high rate of warranty repairs and service readiness concerns for local specialists suggest potential future issues in the transportation industry, especially in the context of public-transit systems.
