The Chizhik project celebrates its anniversary

On May 30, 2026, 10 years have passed since the conclusion of the concession agreement on the creation, reconstruction and operation of the Chizhik tram network in the Krasnogvardeysky district of St. Petersburg. The document was signed between the city government and the Transport Concession Company (TKK LLC).
The aim of the project was the comprehensive modernization of the tram network, which connects the area of mass residential development Rzhevka-Porokhovye with the Ladozhskaya metro station and the Rzhevka railway station. Before the reconstruction, the tramway infrastructure was severely worn out, and the existing rolling stock was outdated.
"The project is the first Russian concession experience in the field of urban rail transport. The Chizhik has deservedly become a favorite mode of transport for the residents of the city. He initiated new projects in the field of tram traffic development in St. Petersburg, made qualitative changes to the transport infrastructure of one of the largest districts of the city. The main thing is that it reduces travel time and creates comfortable conditions for passengers. More than 19 million people are transported by Chizhik trams every year," said Governor Alexander Beglov.
As a result of the project, traffic on route No. 8 of the Chizhik network began in March 2018, and in September 2019, all four routes were fully commissioned.
As part of the project, the concessionaire, TKK LLC, rebuilt 38 km of tram tracks; equipped 40 stopping points; acquired 23 units of high–tech rolling stock; built a modern, high–tech depot for 50 wagons with the possibility of a full maintenance cycle; created and implemented a fundamentally new integrated automated tram traffic management system for Russia.
The volume of investments in the project amounted to 15.4 billion rubles. The term of the concession agreement is 30 years, of which 27 years are allocated for operation.
Today, TKK LLC, under the concession agreement, provides passenger transportation services in accordance with the timetable approved by the St. Petersburg Transport Committee and at the established city tariffs. The Chizhik tram payment system is fully integrated with the citywide system. At the end of 2025, TKK LLC, together with Sberbank, launched a new GEO-Pay technology, which demonstrated stable operation and efficiency.