chronic problems
On May 10 a regular bus, driven by Rakhmatshoh Kurbonov, arrived in St. Petersburg and crashed into the Moika River in the city center. During the investigation, the court detained the driver for two months. Kurbonov claimed the bus brakes were not functioning. Following the crash, local authorities instructed a comprehensive audit of all carriers, a directive issued by the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin.
The transport system of St. Petersburg has long raised concerns. In 2022 and 2023, reports noted ongoing issues with city buses, including a spate of fires that damaged or destroyed a significant number of vehicles in the first half of 2023. These incidents have underscored vulnerabilities in fleet maintenance and fire safety, drawing scrutiny from officials and experts alike.
Typically, many such incidents occur during the summer when engines operate near the edge of their cooling capacity. Large 12-meter methane-powered buses, equipped with sizable cylinders on their roofs, have suffered fires due to failures in the fan cooling system. A clamp on a hydraulic hose can fail, allowing oil to disperse over hot surfaces, igniting and causing rapid spread. Experts describe the mechanics of these fires and emphasize preventive maintenance as the key to reducing risk.
There have also been more unusual episodes, like one in July 2023 at a major intersection where a Volgabus lost its engine and transmission while in motion. After media coverage, regulatory bodies stepped in to address ongoing safety concerns in urban transport and pressure the industry to improve oversight.
Despite assurances, St. Petersburg has continued to see reports of buses and trams catching fire, highlighting persistent safety challenges across the city’s transport network. A separate incident in Lazurnoye, where a bus from the Third Park company caught fire on Parachute Street, confirmed that there were no casualties, though the event drew public attention to the broader risk profile of municipal and private fleets.
cheap labor
Alongside safety concerns, the city faces a separate challenge in its passenger transport sector related to labor practices. Observers note that some private bus operators pursue aggressive cost-cutting strategies and rely on migrant workers willing to endure long hours for relatively low pay. A specialist in the field described the market dynamics to socialbites.ca, explaining that private carriers often compete by offering lower wages and tougher working conditions compared with state-owned operators.
According to the expert, this approach means that immigrants are frequently willing to take on shifts that extend well beyond standard limits. He argued that while it is technically feasible to enforce strict work and rest schedules, doing so could jeopardize service reliability and driver availability. The use of tachographs to monitor hours is common in many sectors but remains less prevalent in urban transport in the region, though some systems similar to Moscow’s Antison exist and show promising results in reducing serious accidents. The expert pointed out that state-backed carriers have begun adopting comparable safeguards, while private operators have not yet fully implemented them.
Every city faces a delicate balance between cost control and safety. In St. Petersburg, the differences in regulatory environments between public and private operators contribute to the ongoing tension. Industry observers emphasize that robust scheduling controls, automated monitoring, and clear accountability are essential to maintaining a reliable transportation network that protects both workers and riders.
There is also discussion about the overall capacity of the system to enforce compliance. Officials describe a framework in which licensing authorities verify adherence to conditions and safety requirements, medical exams, and driver work hours. Some experts argue that data-tracking platforms and consumer-ready reporting can improve transparency and accountability, while still acknowledging practical limits on enforcement. An automotive association executive noted a shortage of qualified drivers across both passenger and freight sectors, which can drive hiring and operational pressures. He warned that in some cases inspections are not fully trusted and that low-cost auctions may obscure underlying issues with oversight.
In summary, observers insist that ensuring safe, affordable, and dependable urban transport requires a combination of tighter licensing controls, rigorous driver screening, better rest-period enforcement, and smarter use of technology for real-time monitoring. Public confidence in the system depends on concrete action from regulators, carriers, and city officials. As inquiries continue and measures are announced, the focus remains on reducing risk, improving efficiency, and protecting both residents and visitors who rely on the network daily.