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Let's Save Baku Trams and Trolley-buses 

Anar Mehdiyev 

Save Baku Trams and Trolley Buses Initiative Group 

 

Baku used to be proud of its effective system of public transport. Our city had the sixth longest metro system in the 

Soviet Union and the fifth most extensive network of trolley-bus routes (365 km, 32 routes).  However, as regular 

funding from the state budget for the maintenance of public transport has been reduced, the quality of Baku's public 

transport has degraded considerably. 

 

As the money for purchasing new trams and trolley buses ran out, the number of routes was reduced and the quality 

of service became absolutely unsatisfactory.  Today minibuses fill our city.  At first it seemed that a large number of 

minibuses would solve many of the problems of public transport.  This has not been the case.  All of us have 

witnessed how minibus drivers recklessly search for passengers.  Considering the limited capacity of these 

minibuses, we certainly cannot expect quality service. And certainly, there is no need to describe in detail how taller 

passengers feel in these minibuses. 

 

Perhaps the largest single problem with minibuses is the tremendous amount of smoke and toxic gases they 

produce.  These buses are usually very old vehicles that were bought at quite low prices from transport businesses.  

As a result, our city is suffocating.  Many countries at one time or another have experienced problems with 

overcrowded roads, and the air pollution that comes with such congestion.  In order to reduce the level of pollution in 

cities, priority has been given to electric forms of transportation.  Over the last 20 years, people in 61 cities of the 

world have begun to use trams.  As a result of new transport policy, trams are being used in London, Paris, Lyon, 

Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok and Manila.  In Baku, unfortunately, the opposite is occurring.  The city administration has 

decided to eliminate electric transport.  Reasons given include its inability to make a profit and complaints of 

vibration during use.  

 

Everyone knows that in Baku electric transport is on the edge of collapse. But why should it be eliminated instead of 

rehabilitated?  Because it is easier to destroy than to build.  It is very sad that for our officials it is easier to spoil the 

image and ecology of Baku, selling of the copper wires and the hundreds of tons of steel rails, than to follow the 

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successful examples of so many other cities by rehabilitating trams and trolley buses.  Certainly there can be no 

doubt that trams and trolley buses represent the most progressive transport option available. 

 

Electric transport has a number of indisputable advantages:  

Ecology:  Trams and trolley buses do not pollute the atmosphere. Criticism concerning the vibration of trams is 

misplaced.  People in Europe have already successfully avoided such problems by properly maintaining their rail 

lines. 

Capacity:  One tram carries more passengers than 7-10 “Gazel” or “RAF” minibuses.  

Economy:  The conveyance of one passenger costs less than by auto transport. 

Comfort:  Trolley buses are a far more comfortable form of transportation. 

 

The decision of the administration to eliminate electric transport does not stand up well to criticism. In the 1990s, the 

cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg shortened their lines.  In this case it was necessary, due to the wide scale 

building of new roads and the reconstruction of old roads and roundabouts.  Nobody has ever eliminated trams and 

trolley buses because of the poor conditions of the transport infrastructure or financial shortages. As a result of the 

crisis of the 90s, buses, not trams or trolley buses, were reduced in Moscow, because their maintenance costs were 

much more than trams.   In addition to their vital role in public transportation, trams are historical and romantic 

symbols of the city. Excursions in old trams are a joy to visitors in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and Riga.  In 

many cities of the CIS and around the world there are museums dedicated to public transport that attract numerous 

visitors. 

 

On April 13, a number of environmental NGOs discussed the issue of eliminating electric transport and signed an 

NGO protest letter addressed to the mayor in opposition to this ecologically damaging decision of the administration.  

On April 22 in Fountain Square, an initiative group, together with The Azerbaijan Green Movement, collected 

signatures in defense of Baku's trams and trolley buses.  Within three hours 600 signatures were collected.  This 

was a very good indicator of public support for trams and trolley buses as the action was held without any advance 

announcement. 

 

Broad public discussions initiated by the town administration would be a good beginning for solving this crisis.  This 

is the usual practice for virtually all Western cities.  Such public discussions resulted in the appearance of trams in 3 

cities in France and in 2 cities in Great Britain.  We hope that the administration and the people will hear and support 

us.   For now, Baku is on the list of the world's 300 cities with trams and trolley buses.  Let's keep it that way!