150 Solaris buses for Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius

It is the biggest contract for the one-off delivery of buses in Lithuania since 1990.

The order for the Lithuanian capital covers the supply and financing of 100 new Solaris Urbino 12 and 50 new generation Urbino 18 (articulated) buses, worth over EUR 40 million. The first buses are expected to be on the roads of Vilnius in March 2018, while the rest of the order is to be delivered by the end of next year. Financing will be ensured by local bank Luminor.

The vehicles for VVT will be equipped with engines meeting the highly restrictive Euro 6 emissions standards. The one hundred 12-metre buses will feature a Cummins engine, whereas DAF motors will be used in the articulated buses. Helping bus drivers to improve the economy of their driving, every vehicle will be equipped with an Economiser – a system for the registration of fuel consumption and the driving style.

The buses will feature additional enhancements for the benefit of the driver and passengers, namely a passenger counting system, full air conditioning and free WiFi access. Passengers using public transport will also be able to recharge their mobile phones using one of the generally accessible USB ports. A CCTV system will be installed both inside and outside of the bus, as will a state-of-the-art passenger information system. For even greater travel safety, an alcolock will be installed right next to the dashboard. This breathalyser prevents drunk drivers from starting the engine.

It is the first order in the city’s history for Solaris vehicles with conventional drives, and brings the total number of Solaris buses in Lithuania to nearly 350. Solaris is also the sole bidder in a tender, that is currently underway, for the supply of 41 trolleybuses to Vilnius.