Tallinn continues to develop its trolleybus network, with the reconstruction of the trolleybus network infrastructure and the acquisition of 40 new battery-powered trolleybuses planned over the next five to six years. The city government instructed AS Tallinna Linnatransport to start preparations for the necessary procurement.

According to Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart, Tallinn has made a principled decision to continue developing the trolleybus network as an important and environmentally sustainable form of public transport. "While in recent years there has been increasing discussion on whether to abandon trolleybuses and introduce electric buses, it is actually necessary to provide the widest possible range of public transport options to meet the needs of city residents," said Kõlvart. "We have set a target for the capital's public transport to be emission-free by 2035, in line with the targets set in the Mobility Plan. Several major European cities are currently upgrading their trolleybus networks, such as Vilnius, Prague, Zurich, Milan and many others developing trolleybus services and acquiring new vehicles." "Trolleybuses are not only environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective thanks to their high carrying capacities and longer service life. Today's battery-powered trolleys are quiet and comfortable for passengers."

The plan is to purchase 40 new battery-powered trolleybuses: 22 long ones, which are 18 metres long. and 18 regular ones, which are 12 metres long. The total cost of the investment – the purchase of the battery-powered trolleybuses and the reconstruction of the contact network – is estimated to be €40-50 million over the next five to six years.

"There are currently four trolleybus lines operating in Tallinn," Kõlvart added. "In many locations, their infrastructure is decades old and needs to be replaced. We will certainly consider adding new routes as well."

Deputy Mayor Vladimir Svet explained that the plan is to renovate the contact networks on Mustamäe Road, Sõpruse Avenue and Akadeemia Road and eliminate trolleybus lines in the city centre. "Battery-powered trolleybuses are well suited for the development of the trolleybus network, as on sections where there are no lines, the trolleybuses would run on battery power," said Svet. The charging would take place on the main roads to Mustamäe. In the future, this would make it possible to extend trolleybus routes to areas where they cannot currently go due to the lack of a contact network."

Alongside the new trolleybuses, Tallinn will gradually introduce electric buses, which are better suited to serve routes with smaller carrying volumes, as they have less space than trolleybuses.

To ensure the transition to fossil fuel-free public transport, the Tallinn City Government plans to request that the City Council allocate funds for the purchase of battery-powered trolleybuses and the design of the trolleybus network reconstruction in the first supplementary budget of the City of Tallinn for 2024.