After 55, life is just beginning: retired Swedish trams are heading to work in Mykolaiv

In Gothenburg, they were being prepared for decommissioning and disposal; in Mykolaiv, they plan to put them into service after conversion.

The first test tram from the Swedish city of Gothenburg arrived in Mykolaiv on November 2, 2026. But amid the reports about international assistance and the expansion of the city’s electric transit fleet, there is an interesting detail: Mykolaiv is receiving genuine pensioner trams built as far back as 1969–1972. That means that in 2026, these cars are already 54–57 years old!

These are Hägglund M29 trams, which carried passengers in Gothenburg for more than half a century. Sweden is gradually replacing this rolling stock with modern cars, and the old trams were due to be decommissioned and scrapped. Now they will have a chance at a second life in Mykolaiv.

The car’s arrival and age were reported on Facebook by Oleh Vasyliev. The arrival was also confirmed by the Mykolaiv City Council.

Prepared for scrapping in Sweden, donated to Mykolaiv

As Swedish broadcaster SVT reported, the 40 M29 trams intended for transfer to Ukraine had previously been slated for withdrawal from service. Without an agreement with Mykolaiv, they would have been scrapped.

The Göteborgs Spårvägar company website listed June 1, 2026 as the end-of-service date for all cars of this series that were still in operation.

The reason for retiring the old vehicles is the Swedish city’s tram fleet renewal. Modern low-floor M34 cars are replacing the M29s and are being introduced into service during 2025–2027.

At the same time, transferring the old vehicles to Ukraine allows the Swedish side to avoid some of the costs of scrapping them.

Half a century in service: what is known about the M29 trams

The Hägglund M29 cars were built in the Swedish city of Örnsköldsvik from 1969 to 1972. A total of 60 of these trams were manufactured.

According to the Swedish tramway society, the model has the following specifications:

• Car length — 15.13 meters.
• Width — 2.65 meters.
• Weight — about 17 tonnes.
• Maximum speed — 60 km/h.
• Passenger capacity — 118 people, including 36 seats.

These are old high-floor cars that lack the accessibility features found in modern low-floor trams.

Over decades of service, these cars became one of the recognizable symbols of public transit in Gothenburg.

Despite their age, Swedish transit workers kept them in working order. In particular, in 2022, Göteborgs Spårvägar decided to repair 20 M29 trams so they could operate safely until the series was retired.

The repairs included removing corrosion from the bodies, restoring metal structures, repairing electrical and pneumatic systems, replacing individual components, and repainting. The work was reported by Gothenburg’s transit company itself.

According to information provided by Oleh Vasyliev, the cars underwent regular factory repairs and major overhauls. Until recently, they were in regular service and are in good technical condition.

However, the repairs do not change the fact that the trams’ main structures were built more than half a century ago.

The old trams will also need to be converted

The first Swedish car was delivered to the depot of the Mykolaivelektrotrans municipal enterprise on November 2, 2026. But it will not be able to start serving city routes straight away.

The main technical challenge is the difference in track gauge:

• In Gothenburg — 1,435 mm.
• In Mykolaiv — 1,524 mm.

To adapt the Swedish cars to Mykolaiv’s infrastructure, the company’s specialists will need to replace the wheelsets, modify the bogies, and conduct technical trials.

After conversion, the tram must undergo mandatory technical inspections and testing on Mykolaiv’s tracks. Only then can it be approved for passenger service.

Employees of Mykolaivelektrotrans have already visited Sweden, where they studied the cars’ design, maintenance requirements, and conversion options.

The company’s director, Yurii Smetana, previously noted that, despite their age, the Swedish cars are in significantly better technical condition than most of the trams currently operating in Mykolaiv.

However, the specific cost of converting the entire batch of 40 cars and the timeline for completing the work have not yet been announced.

Another 39 pensioner trams are awaiting transfer

The agreement provides for the transfer of 40 Swedish trams. The first car has already arrived in Mykolaiv, while another 39 are still included in the supply program.

The city expects to receive the next 10 cars in 2027, with the remaining vehicles to be transferred in stages during 2027–2028.

According to preliminary agreements, the trams themselves are being transferred free of charge, while the Swedish side is covering transportation costs.

Cooperation between the cities was coordinated by Ragnar Lund, director of the Rethinking Cities in Ukraine platform.

Commenting on the arrival of the first car, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych explained that its adaptation and entry into service must come before any further trams are transferred.

“This is the first tram we have received from the city of Gothenburg. Next, we need to adapt it, and once it enters service, we will receive the others. I thank our partners and the employees of Mykolaivelektrotrans who went to Sweden, saw how the trams could be converted, and received positive feedback about further cooperation. I hope this tram will be running on Mykolaiv’s tracks soon.”

Thus, Mykolaiv has an opportunity to expand its tram fleet without spending money on purchasing cars. At the same time, the city will need to arrange for the continued operation, repair, and maintenance of vehicles built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The key question now is not only when these pensioner trams will enter service on Mykolaiv’s routes, but also how much their conversion will cost and how long they will be able to operate after more than half a century of service in Sweden.

No specific date has yet been announced for the first passenger service.

Photo: Kārlis Paikens — according to the caption to Oleh Vasyliev’s post.

We previously reported:

• Ten more used cars from Gothenburg are expected by the end of the year
• Swedish trams for Mykolaiv: the first car is already at the depot
• 40 used trams from Sweden for Mykolaiv: Mykolaivelektrotrans employees have already set off for Gothenburg
• No money and a different track gauge: can Mykolaiv put 40 used trams from Gothenburg into service?
• 40 trams for Mykolaiv: Swedish company ready to transfer the cars; only council approval is needed