The delivery of the first Bozankaya tram, out of 25 Turkish-made vehicles destined for Belgrade, faces challenges just as testing is about to begin. Sources from GSP Belgrade and traffic engineer Ivan Banković warn that the new trams’ width could cause significant operational problems.
At 2.4 meters wide, the Bozankaya trams are wider than Belgrade’s existing vehicles—CAF trams at 2.2 meters and Divag at 2.3 meters. This extra width may prevent two trams traveling in opposite directions from passing simultaneously at certain tight intersections and curves, such as Nemanja Street with Resavska Street, and Kralja Aleksandra Street with Beogradska Boulevard. This will likely require traffic throttling, reducing overall efficiency.
The first tram already suffered damage during testing—specifically to its blinker and external camera—reportedly caused by an error from the Turkish manufacturer’s training representative. Furthermore, a recent reconstruction narrowed the track spacing at the Nemanjina and Resavska intersection, complicating the situation further.
Ivan Banković, president of the Centar GSP Belgrade trade union, claims the width issue was known from the start, as the tender’s technical specifications demanded it. He alleges the tender was effectively designed for the Turkish manufacturer, with the contract decision known months in advance. Banković anticipates delays in the delivery schedule for the remaining 23 trams.
He also warns against pressure to rush testing and insists that any infrastructure problems must be addressed promptly, to avoid placing blame on GSP drivers. “It’s crucial that the expert commission’s recommendations are implemented quickly so that we don’t face operational issues with the new trams in the future,” Banković stressed, underscoring the importance of professional standards.
