Prospects For Growth
When the Soviet Union collapsed, development of rapid transit systems in all of the former republics was deprived of funding and neglected. In many cases, cities which acquired a metro system in the late 1980s only gained an initial stretch with passenger flows barely making the systems significant. In both Metrotram cities, however, the reverse was the case.
The KRMT carries 40 million people annually, with a record of 56 million in 1997. In comparison, annual passenger numbers on the Dnipropetrovsk Metro, which opened in 1995, amount to only 12 million. In the present financial climate, it is unlikely that the Dnipropetrovsk system will be extended to allow it to accommodate anything like the numbers of passengers using the Metrotram system within the next 15 years at least. The Metrotram's compatibility and low construction costs have shown it to be superior to the Metro in every respect, and, unlike the metros in Dnipropetrovsk and many other post-Soviet cities, the Tram now functions as an important traffic artery, which will be a significant factor in securing funds for future extensions.
At present, there are no ongoing construction projects; however, in both northern and southern directions there is clear need for the tram to be expanded. Furthermore, procurement of newer rolling stock is also important and will likely continue.
Read more about this topic: Kryvyi Rih Metrotram
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