Klaipėda Bus Disruptions: Cold Weather Causes Service Issues

Klaipėda Public Transportation Disrupted by Extreme Cold

Klaipėda’s public transportation system experienced significant disruptions Monday morning, February 2, 2026, due to extreme cold. According to reports, dozens of buses were unable to begin their routes, leaving commuters stranded and prompting complaints to transport authorities.

The disruptions occurred during the morning peak hours, between approximately 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM. A total of 18 buses were affected – 16 on local routes and two serving the Dituvos sodų area. Specific routes impacted included 1, 5, 8, 9, and 10.

“Klaipėdos keleivinio transporto” (Klaipėda Passenger Transport) experienced a surge in calls from frustrated passengers inquiring about the missing buses. Commuters expressed anger at being left waiting in the frigid temperatures.

Gintaras Neniškis, head of “Klaipėdos keleivinio transporto”, explained that the smaller, electric buses were operating without issue. The problems were concentrated among the larger buses powered by gas. By approximately 11:00 AM, the transportation system had returned to normal operation, with Neniškis expressing hope that the evening peak would not experience similar issues.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the failures, noting that such widespread system failures have not occurred previously. Transport operators face potential fines as a result of the disruptions.

Gas Buses Unable to Start

UAB “Klaipėdos paslaugos” (Klaipėda Services), the company responsible for operating many of the buses, issued an apology to passengers for the morning disruptions. Vaidas Ramanauskas, General Director of “Klaipėdos paslaugos”, stated that the extreme cold prevented many of the gas-powered buses from starting. “The extreme cold affected the gas buses. After the coldest night, not one or two, but nearly two dozen vehicles did not start,” he said.

Ramanauskas emphasized that the company had not encountered such significant technical problems in the more than 15 years the buses have been in service. As a preventative measure, “Klaipėdos paslaugos” plans to keep the gas-powered buses in heated repair facilities during the remainder of the week, given the continued forecast for extremely low temperatures.

City Officials Informed

Klaipėda City Municipality officials were alerted to the situation early Monday morning and maintained close contact with the public transport providers. The mayor has been informed of the disruptions.

The municipality received explanations from the transport companies, attributing the problems to record-low temperatures that caused technical issues with a portion of the gas-powered bus fleet. Company representatives stated that the scale of the incident was unprecedented, with no similar challenges experienced in the past 15 to 20 years of operation.

The disruptions come after the addition of 12 new, environmentally friendly buses powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the Klaipėda fleet approximately a year ago. These buses, manufactured by the French firm “Irisbus,” represent one of the first major updates to the city’s public transport fleet in recent history.

Klaipėda residents have previously voiced concerns about the condition of public transportation, including complaints about unmaintained bus stops during winter weather. Authorities responded to previous complaints regarding uncleaned bus stop entrances during heavy snowfall.

Klaipėda, along with Vilnius and Šiauliai, experienced significant cold temperatures leading to the disruptions. Passengers in Klaipėda are advised to monitor bus locations via a map available on the “Klaipėdos keleivinis transportas” website.