Train or tram? Czechia's first hybrid hits the test track, the train-tram could reshape regional transport
Half tram, half train. Engineers in the village of Dětenice, in the Jičín region, are testing a vehicle that could make regional rail transport more efficient. Powered by onboard batteries, the prototype could begin carrying passengers within two years if everything goes according to plan.
The villages of Dětenice and Libáň, northeast of Prague, are just four kilometres apart. The regional train covers the distance in around five minutes. But at the beginning of June, passengers waiting at Libáň station witnessed an unusual sight: a blue tram rolled into the station from Dětenice – on railway tracks.
The vehicle has been named Lenka, an acronym for the Czech phrase meaning "Light electric rechargeable rail vehicle by AŽD." It originally served as a tram in Brno, featuring eight axles and five doors on each side. But as Antonín Diviš, Deputy Director for Research and Development at AŽD company, explains, the vehicle underwent extensive modifications to operate both as a tram and as a train.
"The main difference lies in the wheelsets, which allow it to run on railway infrastructure. Naturally, we've also added a range of safety technologies required for railway operation. But the primary modification is the battery pack. We've replaced the roof-mounted power supply with a battery system that powers the vehicle independently."
Thanks to this solution, the train-tram should eventually be able to travel both through city centres and along regional railway lines. So far, the vehicle has only been tested on a dedicated test track. AŽD company plans to apply for approval to carry passengers once the trials are complete. That is also the hope of the company's CEO, Zdeněk Hrdlička.
"Of course, I'd be delighted if the train-tram could already be carrying passengers during next year's tourist season. But that depends on the results of the testing. So far, we know it performs well over railway switches and that the infrastructure works as expected."
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Compared with conventional regional trains, operating the train-tram is expected to be significantly cheaper. For passengers, the concept could also bring greater convenience in the future.
"Passengers could travel all the way into the city centre without changing trains. The vehicle would simply switch to urban operating mode and move directly from the railway network onto city tram tracks."
However, current Czech legislation does not yet allow train-trams to operate. The Ministry of Transport considered introducing the necessary legal changes back in 2012 but ultimately abandoned the plan. According to ministry spokesperson František Jemelka, any legislative amendment will depend on whether there is sufficient demand for this type of transport.
"We have commissioned a study to determine under what conditions light rail vehicles can operate on the Czech railway network. We do intend to amend the legislation if the study confirms that such vehicles would be practical in the Czech Republic."
On a single charge, the train-tram should be able to travel around 80 kilometres and reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour.
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AŽD has invested approximately 12 million Czech crowns in purchasing, refurbishing and equipping the prototype.
The company estimates that the vehicle could begin carrying passengers within two years. Before that can happen, engineers must complete a series of tests required by the Czech Railway Authority to verify the modified vehicle's performance on railway infrastructure. The testing programme must conclude by the end of 2027, after which AŽD plans to apply for permission to operate the train-tram in regular passenger service.
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