// Trolleybus Memoirs //
The public transportation system in Yerevan, Armenia is seriously outdated and in many instances unsafe which greatly affects every citizen that relies on it each day to get to their destination within a reasonable amount time and most importantly safely. The proposal of modernization of Yerevan’s public transport system has been brought up multiples times within the government, however not much significant progress has been made. One of the biggest concerns people have is the unreliability which more often than not leads to being late or sitting in traffic for long amounts of time. Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and was not designed to handle the current amount of traffic which is growing every year. Many people believe the solution to this is to purchase a car to drive within the city, however this is only exacerbating the problem and making the traffic 10 times worse than before and also worsening the air quality.
The elderly people in Yerevan particularity enjoy the trolleybuses because they claim they are larger, can transport more people, are quiet, and more clean for the environment. However, one of a the largest problems with the trolleybus system is the unreliability issue where they constantly detach from the electric wire above further adding to the existing traffic and causing people to arrive late to their destination. Many people complain they are just too slow but they forget to understand that at onetime there were over 300 trolleybuses in operation. Trolleybuses have been in use in Yerevan since 1949 and have served as safe and reliable form of public transportation around the word. The trolleybus is one of the main solutions to the public transportation dilemma in Yerevan and it begins with modernization and new routes.
Many people have learned to just accept the fact that no progress is being made with their transportation system but deep down inside they are ready for change. During the days when Armenia was part of the Soviet Union tickets were used to pay for a ride instead of coins and the buses were much more reliable and safe. In 2017 the government constructed a plan to begin adding a new way to pay with a transportation card like what is used in the EU and other countries around the world, however nothing has taken into effect yet.
The trolleybus drivers pay has also been a concern where it averages around 85,000 dram because the taxes are almost double what they were in the past. The drivers complain they are working longer days with higher taxes and less pay compared to the Soviet Union days. At one point in time taxes averaged around 26%-27% but during the days under the Soviet Union they were around 13% and were paid hourly not daily like today.
The amount of public transportation routes has decreased dramatically forcing passengers to wait long amount of time (particularly worse during the extreme summer heat and frigid winters). Inside the buses are always warmer than the temperature outside because they do not have air conditioning only the breeze that enters through the open windows while moving from stop to stop. This leads to a very uncomfortable ride especially for young children and the elderly. Many of the trolleybuses and other forms of transportation are not equipped to accommodate disabled passengers who rely on a wheel chair to get around and many of the elderly have a difficult time stepping down from them because they are high off the ground.
Many of the drivers are working just to take care of their families however there are some who are working just for fun and extra money and enjoy their job and proud to be a trolleybus driver. The drivers and passengers would like to see an increase in new routes for their trolleybuses, less taxis, and Marshrutkas eventually phased out and not used anymore.
Arthur
Arthur has been a driver for 24 years. He has been driving since 1994 and has worked a variety of jobs including working at an electronic store near the Russian Mall in central Yerevan. He has worked all his life except for a total of 6 months. At one time he was working construction and digging the metro and he states that after working for 6 hours straight each day they would come out black because they were covered in so much dirt. Arthur was in the military, however he hurt his back and could not serve in combat and serve longer. He is not working as a trolleybus driver for the money but for fun, making around 15,000 dram per week. He lives in Avan and leaves home around 7:45 am each morning to begin his long day of work.
Arthur's one son died at 28 years old 7 years ago from head cancer. He has two other sons; the middle-aged son is educated in construction/ engineering but cannot find a job. His wife has also been working her entire life to help make ends meet and support their family. Arthur is an easy-going guy and loves to spend time with his grandchildren when he has time off from work. Anytime he speaks about his child that passed you can see sadness creep up in his eyes. Arthur says the radio is his friend and enjoys listening to music and the news while driving to help clear his mind and pass the time.
Arthur like all the other trolleybus drivers claim that the taxis and overcrowded Marshrutkas create the majority of the problems on the roads (especially in Prospect) because they don’t respect the bus lanes/stops. He says that the young drivers can’t understand the old ones well because they were not part of the old system when the buses first started in Yerevan. In the past new drivers had to take part in training that lasted for a total of 6 months, however today training is only 40 days broken down into three classes with 2 tests at the end.
Throughout the months relationships have been formed with the individual bus drivers in Yerevan who work long hours for little pay. Their concerns of keeping their passengers safe and on-time are aligned with their passengers concerns. The average journey from the first stop to the last stop of the trolleybuses can average between one to two hours depending on the route and often plagued with at least one disconnection from the above power line that powers the buses.
Unreliable and unsafe transportation plagues the heart of Armenia. Those who rely on the public transportation in Yerevan spend hours of their day waiting at the congested stops and in traffic. It’s never certain you will make it on time to your destination.
A common problem with the old trolleybuses is becoming disconnected from the power lines above. This often leads to a significantly long wait lasting at least 20 minutes or more in most cases. However the elderly people use this time as a way to conversate with fellow passengers.
Towards the end of the trolleybus lines children usually have the entire bus to play inside like a moving jungle gym which helps pass the time while waiting in what seems like never-ending traffic. One of the biggest concerns every passenger has is the delays and amount of time it takes to reach their destination. The drivers claim the delays are often caused by the traffic from taxis and the rival Marshrutkas on the same route which are always overcrowded and unsafe.
Drivers usually use their free time in-between routes to make repairs on their buses both mechanically and cosmetically.
Trolleybus Graveyard
At the end of each day the trolleybuses are brought to this location to be stored and serviced. The massive empty lot is like a trolleybus graveyard with many left behind to rust or be stripped for parts. Some of the vehicles date back to the 1970s. Models range from the retired Czech Škoda 9Trs and Soviet ZiU-682s to Czech Škoda 14Tr, Russian LiAZ-5280, and French (Renault) Berliet ER100 from Lyon.
The days and sometimes nights are long for many of the mechanics working here. More often than not the parts needed to repair many of the trolleybuses are not available because they are limited or have stopped being produced. Over the years many of the parts needed have become more scarce making it difficult for the mechanics to do their jobs properly. Sometimes they are left with the only option to piece together the trolleybuses with various parts from Russia, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic just to keep them in service.
Garnik has been working at this location as head mechanic under Gazprom for 5 years. He doesn’t mind his job, however like many of the other mechanics and drivers it's nothing but a means of income to take care of himself and family.
Valerik is a full-time driver because he needs the money. He works 40 days straight with 1 day off. He repairs everything on his bus himself and knows how everything operates. He also says that the Marshrutka drivers are rising up against the trolleybuses and if they don’t change soon there will be more of them. He is also calling for more lines and more buses like what Yerevan once had in the past.
Parts for the trolleybuses were once plentiful and easy to find. However because the majority of buses in use are 7 years old or older the parts needed for repairs are limited and rare to find now. Replacing the old trolleybuses with more modern ones will help alleviate several problems. One being the scarcity in parts, increase in efficiency and well-being of passengers, decrease in unnecessary traffic jams over- time, and a more comfortable ride.
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