The Friendship Tram with Switzerland Started Running in Vinnytsia

"Friendship Tram" between Vinnytsia and Zurich. From today, it runs around the city. "A symbolic gesture of gratitude to Switzerland from the people of Vinnytsia for their support in difficult times for our country," Mayor Serhii Morhunov wrote on his telegram channel. "Our cooperation began with the Zurich Trams project, and it was extremely nice to learn that our Swiss colleagues have launched trams of solidarity with Ukraine. We feel that distant Zurich is close to us today. Two cities, two countries, but we have the same values - freedom, justice, mutual assistance. We appreciate the help of our Swiss friends."

Vinnytsia "Friendship Tram" will run through the city on route No 1. This is one of the Mirage trams that Vinnytsia received during 2007-2012 as part of the Zurich Trams for Vinnytsia project. At that time, our community received a total of 116 Mirage and Karpfen tram cars. The Swiss Confederation funded the transportation of cars from Zurich, the supply of spare parts, the purchase of additional equipment in Ukraine and staff training. It is from this project that Vinnytsia's long-term cooperation with Switzerland began.

It will be recalled that in December 2020, the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine with the participation of Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine Claude Wilde and Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov signed a new Agreement between the Government of the Swiss Confederation, Vinnytsia City Council and Vinnytsia Transport Company on the start of the second phase of the project Zurich Trams for Vinnytsia.

As part of continued cooperation in 2022, Vinnytsia is to receive the first batch of trams of the Tram 2000 series. The official website of the transport company VBZ in Zurich states that they will leave for Ukraine in the fall, and that VBZ sincerely wants this to be possible.