Prague rolls out first new tram model in 20 years
Seven new Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams were put into regular service in the Czech capital this week - Prague’s first new tram model in two decades.The Prague Transit Company plans to add 20 new trams on various routes for the city’s passengers by the end of the year.
The modern Škoda trams –now in service on line 12 from Lehovec to Sídliště Barrandov - are designed to maximize passenger comfort, with space to accommodate more passengers than older models and features including air conditioning and WiFi connectivity. The vehicles also have an entirely low-floor layout, increasing accessibility for all passengers. In a September press release, Škoda Group also detailed the trams’ anti-collision technology that can detect obstacles in front of the vehicle and warn the drivers, or even automatically trigger the emergency brakes if needed.
According to the Prague Public Transit Company’s (DPP) contract, Prague could add up to 200 new trams over the next several years while replacing older vehicles. What’s more, the majority of the suppliers who helped develop the tram — which each cost around CZK 82.5 million crowns before VAT — are Czech companies, thus bolstering the local economy while improving public transportation. Although Škoda Group designed its newest tram model specifically for Prague, CEO Petr Novotný said that the team aims to introduce the advanced vehicle to other European cities, especially in Poland, and similarly partner with local industry leaders to ensure that the trams’ construction is helping the local economy wherever they are.
