The public procurement process for 100 new trams, valued at thirty billion dinars (including VAT), has been halted due to changes in the circumstances of the City Transport Company (GSP). The decision to suspend the procurement was explained by GSP, which stated that, during the competition, suggestions were received from potential bidders. These suggestions highlighted the need to reconsider some technical aspects of the existing documentation to ensure the “transparency, competition, and equality” of the participants. This was deemed necessary to allow for the most efficient choice and selection of the best and most modern solutions.
However, the reasons for abandoning the tender, initially set for April 1, remain somewhat unclear.
The minority trade union “Centar” of GSP Belgrade has raised concerns, suggesting that the tender documentation was designed with criteria most favorable to the Romanian manufacturer, Astra from Arad. This has led to suspicions that the procurement process was tailored to favor a single manufacturer.
According to the union’s statement, the tender for new trams was designed to request the procurement of 100 short trams, each measuring 17 to 20 meters in length, with a capacity of only 95 passenger seats, of which 30 are seated. Moreover, there was no provision for combining two trams into one composition. The union pointed out that these specifications do not meet the needs of public transport users or the GSP. Since these trams would be used in the city for at least 40 years, the union argued that the procurement was not in the best interest of Belgrade’s transportation system, leading to the suspension of the process.
In 2024, the city had already purchased 25 rail vehicles from the Turkish company Bonzakaja Otomotiv. As announced by Mayor Aleksandar Šapić in February, the first trams were expected to begin arriving in Belgrade in the spring.
The mayor also revealed plans to refurbish 25 existing “Spaniard” trams and emphasized that, with the purchase of the 25 Turkish trams and the eventual acquisition of 100 new rail vehicles, Belgrade would finally have 150 new trams in service.
