Veteran Driver Says New Tallinn Trolleybus Handles Like a Car
Tallinn trolleybus driver Sergei Gritšenko, who began driving in 1979, says modern trolleybuses are much easier to operate than older models, resembling a car driving experience.
Sergei Gritšenko, who first got behind the wheel of a trolleybus in 1979, shares his observations on how the profession has changed. After military service, he saw a notice recruiting trolleybus drivers and learned the trade in six months. He later worked in other fields, including as a bus driver, but returned to trolleybuses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Gritšenko, driving old trolleybuses required physical strength: three heavy pedals, a heavy steering wheel, and heavy trolley poles. Modern trolleybuses, however, are operated almost like a passenger car. Although they still have trolley poles, powerful batteries mean they don't always need to be used. In the city center and near Balti jaam station, where there are many turns, drivers lower the poles and rely solely on batteries – enough to complete the entire route.
Drivers no longer need to leave the cab to raise fallen poles if everything is done correctly. Training used to take six months, later three, but now one can become a trolleybus driver in a single day.
Among the challenges, Gritšenko mentions homeless people boarding just to sleep and passengers complaining about delays, even though traffic in the bus lane is often the cause. He notes that he enjoys the work because it involves interacting with people, and there is always something new and interesting happening.
