"'Accordion' from Uzhhorod vs the 'ghost accordion': Mykolaiv again bets on an old Mercedes"

Mykolaiv is to receive another bus for the city public transport system. This concerns the transfer from Uzhhorod of a large low-floor bus MERCEDES-BENZ O 530 G CITARO, 2005 model year, which is planned to be added to the balance sheet of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans”. The relevant decision was adopted on May 27 2026 by the executive committee of the Mykolaiv City Council.

The MERCEDES-BENZ O 530 G CITARO belongs to large-size public transport. It is the so-called “accordion” – an articulated bus that is usually used on routes with high passenger flows where regular vehicles are no longer sufficient.

Such buses are well known in European cities. Their length is almost 18 meters, and their passenger capacity, depending on the configuration, can exceed 140 people. For Mykolaiv, where residents regularly complain about a lack of transport and crowded interiors during peak hours, an additional large vehicle can be a noticeable help.

The draft decision notes that the bus is in satisfactory technical condition. Its book value amounts to more than 205 thousand hryvnias. At the same time, it is a vehicle of the 2005 model year, meaning the bus is already over 20 years old, so it is important for passengers that it be thoroughly inspected and serviced before entering service.

The transfer of the bus specifically to municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans” seems logical against the backdrop of the expansion of municipal bus service in the city. The enterprise has previously launched new routes, in particular route No. 49 from Shyroka Balka microdistrict to the Mykolaiv-Vantazhny station, which is also important for residents of the Korabelnyi District.

However, the main question for Mykolaiv residents is not only the fact of the bus transfer itself, but which route it will be assigned to and whether it will truly help where passenger traffic is highest. A large “accordion” can be useful on busy routes, but only if it is in good working condition, runs on a regular schedule, and there are enough drivers. For a city that has lost part of its transport capabilities during the war and continues to operate under the threat of Russian attacks, every unit of public transport matters. At the same time, residents expect not just another transfer to the balance sheet, but the bus actually entering service.

Reminder, earlier we wrote:

• There was a German Mercedes, it became a shelter under the bridge: a bus-“ghost” was found in Mykolaiv
• There are 70 buses — only 35 run, without accounting for fuel and passengers: how the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans” operates
• A new route is being launched in Mykolaiv: Shyroka Balka will get a new transport connection
• Up to 30 UAH per trip: Mykolaiv transport fares have jumped dramatically
• Almost two hours one way: a woman from the Korabelnyi District complained about morning transport
• Mykolaiv will receive new modern buses: transport renewal already on the horizon