Yakutsk's bold bus upgrade sparks debate over costs and efficiency

YAKUTIA.INFO. Amid the recent controversy surrounding Yakutsk's bus operators, one key detail of the dispute has gone largely unnoticed: private carriers claim that the shift from gross revenue taxes to higher levies may be tied to the leasing of expensive Volgabus vehicles. Authorities now present these buses as the solution to the city's public transport woes—but critical flaws in their operation could soon complicate matters.

Recall that officials previously announced plans to deploy 50 new Volgabus models this year, promising a major upgrade to urban transit.

"A single Volgabus has roughly the same capacity as two PAZ buses, significantly boosting route efficiency. These new vehicles are comfortable, spacious, and adapted for Yakutia's harsh winters," the mayor's press service stated.

Yet the challenges posed by this new fleet remain unaddressed.

Costly Repairs and Lengthy Downtime

The core issue with the Volgabus isn't the vehicles themselves but their exorbitant, impractical maintenance under local conditions.

"I haven't driven one myself, so I can't say whether they're good or bad. But the real problem is the staggering costs. First, the buses are expensive to begin with. Second, maintenance is unaffordable for the average operator. You can't earn enough to cover the expenses. Drivers on our route tried them, worked for a month or two, poured all their earnings into repairs, ended up in the red, and returned the buses. The math is simple: you can't make 400 and spend 300—it doesn't add up," said one driver, who asked to remain anonymous.

Take spare parts, for example: a single tire costs 20,000–28,000 rubles. If a specific component fails, you can't buy it in Yakutsk—you have to order it from Novosibirsk and wait two weeks. During that downtime, the bus earns nothing and inconveniences passengers.

Drivers contrast this with the PAZ buses. "PAZ parts may not be top-quality, but they're available. Walk into a store, buy what you need, install it quickly, and the bus is back on the road the next day. They're cheap to maintain and easy to repair," one driver noted. They rank Vector buses second, as many of their parts are interchangeable with PAZ models.

According to drivers, Volgabus vehicles are difficult to repair. In Yakutsk, a single company—Avtokom—acts as both the authorized service provider and the sole parts supplier for these models.

Of course, technically, it's not a problem—if you have the money, you can open your own spare parts store. But that requires massive investment, running into millions, which just isn't feasible for a single carrier. Even a large company with a hundred buses would struggle. If two vehicles break down in a day but only one or two can be repaired, you end up with a backlog and longer downtime. A PAZ bus, on the other hand, can be fixed at any service center in the city, another driver explains.