Crimea has been and remains one of the most picturesque corners of the post-Soviet space. Thanks to the trolleybus, residents and guests of the peninsula have the opportunity not only to travel between the two cities, but also to get inexpensively to Alushta, Gurzuf and others. settlements Yalta highway. The 86-kilometer path pierces the mountainous regions like an arrow, ending on the most beautiful Black Sea coast. The journey from Simferopol airport to the beauty of resort Yalta will take about 2.5 hours.
Line history
The first project of transport communication between the cities appeared in the 30s of the last century, when the Soviet leadership decided to build a railway here. Severe natural conditions, constant landslides and the unsuitability of some sites for construction led to the curtailment of the project. Instead, in 1958, it was proposed to equip a unique intercity trolleybus line. Thanks to the incessant work of the workers of Soviet Ukraine, the section from Simferopol to Alushta was put into operation a year later, and the remaining 33-kilometer section to Yalta was opened in July 1961.
The route's popularity peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, when the interval between trolleybuses did not exceed two minutes during the holiday season. The line management at that time was cooperating with the railway - vacationers, along with a train ticket, often received a ticket for a trolley bus to the coast.
What to see on the route?
The most beautiful plain, mountain and sea landscapes open from the windows of the vehicle. A few kilometers from the border of Simferopol, there is an artificial reservoir on the Salgir River.
Leaving the coast, travelers:
- On the one hand, the composition will observe the ribbon of the Black Sea coast;
- On the other - the peaks of the Crimean mountains.
The route passes through the famous vineyards of the peninsula, which are picturesquely spread along the mountain spurs.
Tourists can see Mount South Demerdzhi (1239 m) and the weathered rocks, which received the mystical name of the Valley of Ghosts. The “head of Catherine” draws attention to itself - a massive block, vaguely resembling the profile of a woman's face. The trolleybus slowly climbs the Angarsk pass (752 m), from where the tourist routes to the Northern Demerdzhi and the Chatyr-Daga plateau begin. Those who wish to go to the Marble and Red caves go to the Perevalnoye stop.
In addition, the path runs near:
- Winery in Massandra;
- Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
How long will the road take?
Trolleybuses usually run at intervals of 18 to 35 minutes. Travel time from Simferopol to Alushta is about 1.5 hours, and you will have to spend another 60 minutes to the Yalta beauties. In total, about 40 stops are made along the way.
Fare
The ticket price may change and it is better to find out the actual cost on the Krymtrolleybus website. In any case, the trolleybus line connecting Simferopol and Yalta remains the most affordable way to deliver tourists to the coast.
As of 2016, ticket price:
- From the Airport to Alushta is 85 rubles;
- To Yalta - 129 rubles;
- The fare from the Simferopol railway station is 70 and 114 rubles, respectively.
Other Features
The Crimean trolleybus fleet is constantly updated, and only modern cars are on the line. Large windows will allow passengers not to miss a single detail from the surrounding landscape.
It is worth familiarizing yourself with the transport schedule in advance - traffic intervals vary greatly depending on the season.
The Crimean trolleybus is one of the main reasons that prompted me to take an express trip to the Crimea. Due to the absence of any significant investment in infrastructure since Soviet times, the unique trolleybus network has retained a Soviet face. This applies not only to the trolleybuses themselves, but also to stops, pavilions and infrastructure.
1. Trolleybuses Škoda 9Tr No. 5511 and No. 5608 in Yalta. Such trolleybuses still make up a significant part of the fleet in Yalta and Alushta.
The Crimean trolleybus is nonsense, which should have been either closed or overhauled. But something in between happened, and I was able to ride on the same trolleybuses as during my previous trip to the Crimea in 1987.
Crimean trolleybus is an intercity trolleybus system linking Simferopol with Alushta and Yalta. The system also includes lines of urban and suburban routes in Simferopol, Alushta and Yalta. The route from the airport to Yalta is the longest trolleybus route in the world - 96 km. The Sevastopol trolleybus network is considered independent and is not part of the Crimean trolleybus.
3. Trolleybus station in Alushta. Trolleybuses Bogdan T70110 No. 8300 and Škoda 9Tr No. 7013.
Initially, they planned to build a railway, but the project was simply not pulled. There were 2 options: one from Bakhchisaray with a tunnel passage through the mountains to Yalta, and the second from Sevastopol along the seashore to Yalta and further from Yalta to Alushta. Before the Great Patriotic War, work was started on laying the tracks, after it they returned to the project, but it was not possible to resume work, because in the area of the village of Opolznevoye there was a shift in the soil, and the laying of tracks became impossible. Options for transferring the project from the landslide area were considered, but research work was carried out, according to which it was decided to abandon the project, since many landslide areas were identified.
The movement of trolleybuses on the first intercity section Simferopol - Alushta was opened in November 1959.
4. Škoda 9Tr with tail number 1508. Built in 1974. It is not currently involved in regular passenger traffic. The final stop is "Working Corner", Alushta.
In the 70-80s, during the holiday season, the intervals of movement of trolleybuses on the Simferopol-Alushta highway averaged 2 minutes. During these years, tickets for trolleybuses to Alushta and Yalta were sold together with railway tickets to Simferopol at the railway ticket offices of large cities of the USSR: Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk, Kharkov, Riga and Vilnius.
6. Škoda 14Tr with tail number 8200, route No. 2, Alushta.
Then the dashing 90s began and passenger traffic gradually began to fall . There is no talk of any development of the network went on, worked on the line trolleybuses delivered in 1960-1990. V In 2009, the Krymtrolleybus enterprise was declared bankrupt, and it was on the verge of closing. Many routes were closed.
7. Škoda 14Tr No. 810, Škoda 9Tr 774, Škoda 15Tr 7012. Trolleybus station, Alushta.
The turning point was 2010. New trolleybuses Bogdan T60/T70/T80 began to arrive, new routes began to open. In favor of trolleybuses, most of the fixed-route taxis were removed from the center of Simferopol. The cars delivered during this period still form the basis of the Krymtrolleybus fleet.
At the beginning of 2014, Crimea was annexed to the Russian Federation (Anexia to Krim Russia) and there was a feeling that the Crimean trolleybus would never be the same again. But contrary to expectations, in 2014-2016 the trolleybus network did not receive any new impetus in development, and minibuses returned to the center of Simferopol again. After the well-known events, 5 trolleybuses from different cities of Russia were transferred to the Crimea. It could not be called a planned delivery, rather a spontaneous political decision. Normal deliveries began only in 2016. In 6 months, 14 SVARZ-MAZ-6275 low-floor trolleybuses were delivered.
11. Trolleybus station in Yalta. Trolleybuses Škoda 14Tr.
According to the site transphoto.ru, now “ Crimeatrolleybus» works on the lines 183 cars. Of these, 72 were delivered back in the Soviet period, from 1974 to 1990 year. This is 39.4% of the entire park. The oldest working trolleybus is now 42 years old! Of the trolleybuses purchased between 1990 and 2014, 94 are now in operation.(51.4%) cars. Of those purchased from 2014 to 2016, 17 are working(9.2%) machines.
Below is the complete list:
12. Škoda 14Tr No. 6103, intercity route 52 Yalta - Simferopol. Škoda 14Tr No. 6003, route 41 Yalta - Krasnokamenka. Trolleybus station in Yalta.
Of course, the trolleybus network has long lost its infrastructural significance. The percentage of passengers transported by trolleybuses has become so low that it is no longer possible to speak of any environmental effect. In the days of the USSR, there was no talk of personal vehicles, the question was decided on what to carry - buses or trolleybuses. And then the choice was made in favor of the latter.
13. Škoda 9Tr No. 5608 follows route No. 1 Trolleybus station - st. Krasnoarmeyskaya, Yalta.
14bis: Trolleybuses in Yalta.
If you can somehow put up with traffic jams, then it is more difficult to do it with the environmental component. The beaches in Alushta now smell not of the sea, but of car exhaust. It is impossible to talk about any tourism industry with such an approach. And what are the traffic jams at the entrances to the beaches? Yes, there is anarchy. Well, okay, this is the topic of the next post.
14. Škoda 9Tr in the Yalta trolleybus park, route No. 3 Massandra - st. Krasnoarmeyskaya.
Another important problem of trolleybuses is that they use the same roads for transportation as cars with buses. Due to outdated infrastructure, trolleybuses are forced to greatly reduce speed on three-lane sections of the serpentine and block the movement of other vehicles. Paradoxically, the modernization of the trolleybus system must begin with the expansion of roads. After that, you can upgrade the contact network and trolleybus arrows. Modern technologies make it possible to increase the speed of trolleybuses up to 90 km/h.
Trolleybuses on the intercity route "Simferopol - Alushta - Yalta" in the Crimea in five years due to the reconstruction of contact networks will be able to reach speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour. This was announced on the sidelines of the Crimean Transport Forum by Andrey Bezsalov, Minister of Transport of the Republic, TASS informs.
Today, a trolleybus on the Simferopol-Yalta highway is a big problem, it annoys all the drivers who follow it, - Andrey Bezsalov, Minister of Transport of the Republic, said on the sidelines of the Crimean Transport Forum. - We expect to reconstruct contact networks and reach the average speed of trolleybuses up to 90 kilometers per hour, design solutions that are used for electric trains will be applied there.
According to him, the reconstruction of networks is planned within five years, TASS reports. Also, from his words it became clear that he treats the trolleybus not as a modern and attractive form of transport, but as part of the social infrastructure for low-income Crimeans. That, IMHO, is a completely wrong approach.
Modernization requires not only the infrastructure, but the trolleybuses themselves require replacement. And not just replacements for modern trolleybuses, but replacements for trolleybuses specially designed and built for intercity lines of the Crimea. First of all, they should have an air-conditioned cabin with special luggage racks and chairs designed for long trips.
20. Boarding the trolley bus route 53 Yalta - Alugta. Bogdan T70115 No. 8401.
It also makes sense to think about the reconstruction of intercity trolleybus stations. These must be air-conditioned rooms with good overview, normal chairs for waiting and access directly to the doors of the trolleybus. A good example is the Flygbussarna cityterminalen bus station in Stockholm. There, buses drive up to the terminal on a door-to-door basis.
Trolleybuses in Russia perform a social role for the population. But it is unlikely that in any city this type of transport has gained such popularity as in the Crimea. On the peninsula, the trolley bus went beyond the city and united several cities and the villages closest to them. Also, in comparison with other vehicles, this is one of the most affordable modes of transport, roomy and environmentally friendly. The schedule of the Crimean trolleybuses can be found below.
Intercity flights:
- No. 51 - Simferopol - Alushta; (train station of Simferopol)
- No. 52 - Simferopol - Yalta; (train station of Simferopol)
- No. 53 - Alushta - Yalta; (station Alushta)
- No. 54 - airport - Alushta; (Simferopol airport)
- No. 55 - airport - Yalta. (Simferopol airport)
Suburban trolleybuses:
- Alushta - Upper Kutuzovka (No. 31); (station Alushta
- Alushta - Zaprudnoye (No. 32); (station Alushta
- Simferopol - Perevalnoye (No. 21, 22, 23); (train station of Simferopol)
- Yalta - Nikitsky Botanical Garden(No. 42); (Station Yalta)
- Yalta - Krasnokamenka (No. 41). (Station Yalta)
Crimea trolleybus timetable updated on April 4
There are trolleybuses in Crimea in several major cities, the most popular route is the trolleybus service from Simferopol to the South Bank. The trolleybus route starts from the Simferopol airport and railway station and ends in the vicinity of Yalta, passing along the way the villages adjacent to Simferopol: Perevalnoe, Alushta, Alupka, Nikita and Yalta itself. There are several routes in this direction. The number of flights increases every year during the holiday season. The route Simferopol - Yalta is a unique phenomenon not only within the Crimea, but throughout Europe and the world. This is evidenced by the monument to the trolleybus in the Crimea on the Angarsk pass. The Crimean trolleybus line is the longest, its length is 84 km, and if from the Simferopol airport, then all 96 km. The route was opened more than half a century ago. The first trolleybus went to Alushta in 1959, to Yalta a little later - in 1961.
For many years after the opening of the route, the trolleybus was not just a means of transportation, but also an attraction. Since there was an excursion all the way, observation decks stops to take in the views. Today there are no such excursions, but Krymtrolleybus is going to return to this tradition. After all, the attention of all passengers is still riveted by unforgettable Crimean landscapes - Demerdzhi, Ayu-Dag, Chatyrdag mountains, shady forests and the azure sea.
Crimea trolleybus schedule 2019 2018: intercity flights
There are two trolleybus stations in the capital:
- bus station at the railway station of Simferopol;
- bus station at the airport of Simferopol.
Flights number 51 and 55 travel along the route. Trolleybuses number 51 run at intervals of 25-60 minutes. Quite quickly get to Alushta, less than an hour. Flight 55 is heading to Yalta, stopping at Perevalnoye, Alushta, Gurzuf on the way. On the way 2.5 hours. Intervals between flights are 30-40 minutes. If you go from the railway station, then the fare to Alushta will be 77 rubles, and to Yalta - 122 rubles. A little more expensive from the airport. To Alushta - 92, and to Yalta - 138 rubles. The fare from Alushta to Yalta is 47 rubles.
Crimea trolleybus schedule 2019 2018: suburban flights
Suburban routes are just a salvation for residents of the villages closest to the cities. Permanent and regular transportation guarantee timely access to work or study. Also, the trolleybus in the Crimea is quite economical transport, the fare will cost half as much as by bus. Another advantage is the presence of stops on suburban routes and the large capacity of this type of transport.
In Crimea, there are five flights connecting cities and villages on the Simferopol-Yalta highway. All flights have their own schedule. All routes have thought out interchanges in each settlement. Among the suburban routes, Simferopol - Perevalnoe is especially popular: 21, 22, 23 flights pass along this route. In Simferopol, each of them has its own final stop - the railway station, the central market, Svoboda. The route is necessary for both the local population and tourists. It is from Perevalnoye that you can start your journey to the Red Caves, to Chatyrdag, Tyrka or Dolgorukovskaya Yayla. The fare from Simferopol is 35 rubles.
The site presents the schedule of Crimean trolleybuses for 2019 2018. Knowing exactly the intervals between flights, direction and travel time, you can easily plan and adjust your trip.
I would like to write more about trolleybus Simferopol-Yalta. The route of this trolleybus is unique and the longest in the world (86 kilometers!) and connects Simferopol with the cities of the southern coast of Crimea. This is a very convenient way to move around the Crimea, I recommend checking it out!
UPD: trolleybus routes, timetables and prices are relevant for 2019 (updated)
He wrote about how to get cheaply to Simferopol and Crimea from Russian cities in a separate article:
There is an option to get this distance by taxi - about 1900 rubles will cost you a car, so if you are traveling with a company, this is a great option! You can order a taxi Simferopol-Yalta online in advance from home at
Even in the pre-war years, it was planned to build a railway to Yalta, but due to the presence of many landslide sections along the sea, it was decided to curtail construction plans railway and to send forces for the construction of an intercity mountain trolleybus line. As a result, already in 1961, a connection was opened between the railway station of Simferopol and Yalta, which still functions to this day.
At the moment, there are 3 intercity routes of the Crimean trolleybus + aeroexpress:
- No. 51 Simferopol railway station - Alushta
- №52 Simferopol railway station - Yalta
- №53 Alushta - Yalta
- №20 Simferopol airport - railway station (aeroexpress)
This is how the Simferopol-Yalta trolleybus route and stops look like
From Simferopol, the trolleybus departs from the Railway Station and arrives respectively at the stations in Alushta and Yalta. Both new trolleybuses with air conditioning, TV, large viewing windows, and old ones function. We got a new one, so the impressions were the most pleasant!
Travel time:
Simferopol - Alushta - 1 hour 30 minutes
Simferopol - Yalta - 2 hours 30 minutes
Timetable for trolleybuses Simferopol-Alushta and Simferopol-Yalta:
The final stop in Simferopol is located at the railway station!
Trolley bus Simferopol - Yalta:
Trolleybus departure time from Simferopol (relevant for 2019): every half an hour from 05:00 to 22:00.
Trolleybus Simferopol - Alushta:
Trolleybus departure time from Simferopol (relevant for 2019)
every 20 minutes from 06:40 to 22:10
On weekends: the departure time of a trolleybus from Simferopol (relevant for 2019) every 15-20 minutes, the first run is at 05:34, the last one is at 21:45.
Trolleybus No. 53 runs from Alushta to Yalta every 20-30 minutes in the summer, in the non-holiday season - only a few flights a day.
This type of transport is not only an environmentally friendly, unusual and interesting way to get to the southern coast of Crimea, but everything else is quite cheap.
Cost travel in a trolleybus:
From the railway station of Simferopol to Yalta - 182 rubles
From the railway station of Simferopol to Alushta - 115 rubles
