Odesa's trolleybus system turns 80!
On November 7, 1945, the first trolleybus route No. 1 commenced operation in Odesa: "Train Station — Leo Tolstoy Square".
The launch of the trolleybus service represented a significant milestone in the city's recovery from German-Romanian occupation and the conclusion of World War II. It was not merely a transport project — it symbolized a return to peaceful life.
In fact, the trolleybus system was set to launch as early as 1941: the line project was developed in 1940, and the first vehicles arrived in the city, with 38 future drivers sent for training in Kyiv.
However, the war disrupted these plans. Romanian occupiers destroyed the infrastructure and took the trolleybuses away.
After Odesa was liberated, some of the vehicles were returned and restored, becoming the first to operate on the route that was supposed to open before the war.
Since then, 80 years have passed. The trolleybus has become not just a means of transportation — it has woven itself into the fabric of Odesa's identity, the daily rhythm of the city, its memory, and its future.
