A jubilee year for Prague Public Transport: 150 years of trams and 100 years of bus transport

In 2025, Prague's public transportation system is celebrating  two major anniversaries: 150 years since the introduction of trams and 100 years of continuous bus service. Here is a brief outline of that journey through time, from horse-drawn trams to one of the most advanced transit networks in Europe.

From horses to electricity: The beginnings of public transport in Prague

Horse-drawn tram in Prague|Photo: František Štraybl, Světozor, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The symbolic beginning of Prague's public transport system dates back to September 23, 1875, when the first horse-drawn tram ran from Karlín to the Emperor Franz Josef chain bridge. The line stretched 3.4 kilometers and was operated by the “General Direction der Prager Tramway” company.

In 1891, the first electric tram took to the tracks in Letná, thanks to the visionary František Křižík. Although the line was short-lived and shut down by 1900, it kicked off the era of electrification. As early as 1898, the Electric Company took over the horse-drawn network and began converting it to electric operation.

The first electric tram by František Křižík (1891)|Photo: DPP

Buses: The first attempt and the proper launch

The first attempt at providing a bus service came in 1908, but within a year, it ended in failure — the technology simply wasn’t there yet. The real start came on June 21, 1925, when Line A departed from the Vršovice depot to Záběhlice. That day marked the start of Prague's bus history, which celebrates its centennial this year.

The first bus test in 1908: the line from Hradčany to Malá Strana|Photo: Český svět 17. 4. 1908/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Each decade since has brought its own characteristic vehicles. It began with the narrow Škoda 506 N from 1929 - a bus with 20 seats, wooden sides, and an elegant interior that captured the spirit of the First Republic. In the 1950s, the streets were dominated by the sturdy Škoda 706 RO, which became a postwar transport icon.

Karosa ŠM 11|Photo: ŠJů, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED

The 1960s and ’70s belonged to the legendary Karosa ŠM 11, whose distinct engine gurgle still echoes in the memories of many Prague residents. In the 1980s, it was the Ikarus 280 that took center stage, the irreplaceable backbone of that era’s public transit. The 1990s ushered in the boxy but reliable Karosa B 731 and B 741 models, which met the demands of a modernizing city.

Today’s fleet features the comfortable, fully low-floor SOR NB 12 and NB 18 buses, air-conditioned Irisbuses, and innovative Škoda E’City electric buses,  which are writing a new chapter in sustainable transport. Joining them are cutting-edge trolleybuses like the Škoda-Solaris 24m and SOR TNS 18, silent and versatile machines combining classic overhead lines with independent battery power.

10 photos

Celebrations in 2025: Parades, exhibitions, and open depots

The Prague Public Transport Company is going big with the celebrations. On June 22, 2025, a ceremonial parade of buses from various eras will roll through the city — from the historic Škoda 506 N of 1929 and the legendary Karosa ŠM 11 to the Ikarus 280 and the newest trolleybuses. Three months later, on September 21, a tram parade will follow, led by an authentic horse-drawn tram and concluding with the ultra-modern Škoda 52T.

Visitors can also look forward to open door days at depots: Vršovice depot on June 21, the new Hloubětín depot on September 20, and the Zličín metro depot in the fall. The story of Prague’s public transport will come alive in a series of traveling exhibitions, both on the century of buses and 150 years of public trams, appearing in places like Mariánské náměstí and the Public Transport Museum in Střešovice.

Collectors will have plenty to enjoy too, with special editions of commemorative items including zero-denomination souvenir banknotes, themed stamps, new publications, the Tripper game, and a premiere of the documentary The Great Return, focused on the trolleybus phenomenon in Prague.

Facts from Prague’s public transport history:

• The first proposal for a metro service came from Ladislav Rott in 1898 — it was dismissed as unnecessary.
• Tram line numbering began in 1907; the first was Line No. 5.
• The first tram loop was built in Letná in 1907 as a temporary measure for a Sokol gathering.
• Trams designed in 1905 by architect Jan Kotěra influenced vehicle design for decades.
• Escalators first appeared on the former Letná funicular track after 1916.