Bucharest trams swelter as nearly two-thirds lack air conditioning in heatwave

Bucharest is enduring a scorching heatwave, with temperatures soaring close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), intensifying the discomfort for hundreds of thousands of daily public transport users. The functionality of air conditioning systems in buses, trolleybuses, and trams operated by Societatea de Transport București (STB) has become a critical issue.

Official data reveals that approximately one-third of the city's public transport fleet lacks functional air conditioning. The situation is particularly dire for trams, where nearly two-thirds of the units are operating without climate control. Out of 232 trams in service, only 83 have working air conditioning, leaving many passengers to endure sweltering conditions.

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In the current period, 1293 vehicles from the STB S.A. fleet are scheduled to operate, respectively: 846 buses, 215 trolleybuses, and 232 trams. Of these, 622 buses, 150 trolleybuses, and 83 trams have functional air conditioning equipment as of this date.

While the situation is slightly better for buses and trolleybuses, a significant number still lack cooling. Of the 846 daily buses, 622 are equipped with functional AC, representing about 73.5%. Similarly, 150 out of 215 trolleybuses have working air conditioning, nearly 70% of the fleet. However, this still leaves 438 vehicles across all categories operating without the essential cooling systems.

STB representatives explained that the figures are dynamic, changing daily due to vehicles undergoing maintenance and repairs. They also stated that drivers are obligated to activate and maintain the air conditioning when external temperatures exceed 26 degrees Celsius. For the 438 vehicles without functional AC, passengers are left to rely on natural ventilation through open windows and hatches, offering little respite in the extreme heat.

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These values are dynamic, as the fleet can vary daily depending on vehicles entering and leaving service for revisions, technical interventions, or other maintenance activities.