ABANDONED TRAMWAYS

Cesky Tesin. Last In / First Out. This medium city operated tramways between 1911 and 1921. Their only route connected city with far railway station - - usuall reason to built tramway for these small cities. After fall of Austrian- Hungarian Monarchy, this city was in area, that both Czech Republic and Poland wanted to join. After local war (!} in 1920, city was divided. Old historic centre becomes to be Polish city Cieszyn, while railway station was Czech property. Tramways were in service for half an year, they crossed borderline 18 times in a day. Traffic was drastically reduced, so in 1921 were tramways abandoned. These tramcars were probably sold to another Polish city Lodz in 30's. Urban transport is provided by buses on Polish side now, while Czech part (much smaller} is without this.

Jihlava. Tramways were opened here in 1909, same as in Cesky Tesin to connect city with railway station. Operation with up to five tramcars on 2260 m long route remain unchanged until 1948, route was then abandoned and replaced by trolleybuses. They are in service in city until today.

Ceske Budejovice. City in the southern part of Czech Republic opened their network in same year as Jihlava, Two lines were in service, one from railway station to north, second from railway station to south. In 1933 it was changed, so one line runs directly from north to south, and second (short) operated between Railway station and central square. Again, network was closed in 1948 and was replaced with trolleybuses too. However, trolleybuses were abandoned in 1971 and city transport was provided by buses only, until 1990 when trolleybus service was innagurated again and today's still under expansion.

Marianske Lazne. World-wide famous spa opened their first (and last) tramway route in 1902. It connected again city with near railway station. This tramway was very popular by spa's visitors and survived until 1952 when it was replaced by trolleybuses. Trolleybus network is in service until today, it is now smaller european trolleybus network! However, maybe it will be closed in near future.

Opava. Silesia, province of Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy was lost by Marie Theresie during wars in 1750-1770. Only small part remained in Monarchy, and after 1918 becomes to be a part of Czech Republic. Opava was a capital of this province, their tramway network was opened in 1905, when first line between Hospital and East Railway station was opened. Until 1912 was network expanded to People's Garden, Katerinky and Central Cemetry. Between wars track remained unchanged, after WW2 new extensions to Katerinky II. and to Jaktar were built. In 1952 trolleybus service was opened and until 1956 completely replaced all of trolleybus network.

Teplice. Their tramways were opened in 1895, as second electric tramway after Prague. They operated main line between Retenice through city to Spa Dubi, with complete length about 15 km. Additional extensions to Spa Sanov and to (suburbian) railway station Zamecka zahrada were built before WW1. After WW2, in 1952 they started to operate trolleybus network. Although this should not replaced tramway, in 1956 decision was taken to rebuilt tramway to trolleybus completely. Last route between Novosedlice and Dubi was abandoned then in 1959.

Jablonec nad Nisou. City near Liberec opened their network in 1900. This was connection between Jablonec and Rychnov, this village was station of main railwai line between Liberec and Praha. Network was extended with new lines to Brandl, Janov, and Paseky. In 1951 city operated 33 km long network. In 1955 tramway line to Liberec was opened. But in early 60's decision was taken to close whole network and replace it with busses. It was done in 1965. Only interrurban tramway to Liberec remained. Between 1965 and 1972 it was served from Jablonec's tramway depot too, but depot was abandoned in 1972. Today's there's still hope to extend Liberec route to central bus station. But it is problem with money - Liberec does not want to invest money "because it is not in our city" and Jablonec too "because it is not our tramway". Rest of urban transport is served by a bus.

Usti nad Labem. Closure of this tramway 1970 was crime of the century, because this tramway network was one of the biggest in Czech republic. It was opened in 1899, and quickly spreaded its wings over whole hilly city. Until WW2 maximum track length over 45 km was reached, served with 9 lines. After WW2 some small extensions of track were built. In 1957 first line to Telnice was closed, but in 1960 18 new modern tramcars of T2 type was delivered. However they were too heavy for this poor track, so decision was taken to abandon tramway and replace it (probably) with trolleybuses. Tramways were officialy closed in 1969, but until June 1970 they runned in rush hours. After closure old tramcars were scrapped, rest of T2 tramcars was sold in 1971 to Ostrava and Liberec. Some of them are still in service, Liberec withdrawned them in 1988, but in 1995 they purchased some of Usti's tramcars from Ostrava again. Replacement with trolleybuses was not done, city was served by buses. After 18 years, in 1988 was opened first trolleybus route. After big expansion is now second biggest trolleybus network in Czech Republic here - however tramways are gone. But wait! Chemical Works Spolchemie had an industrial railway. It was server (for safety reasons) with electric locos. This railway, operating on a very narrow gauge 565 mm was closed in May 1996. And there's hope to 'move' track to a public route between trolleybus station and Zoo. So maybe 'tramways' will be again in service in Usti...

TABLE OF ABANDONED TRAMWAYS

This page (c) 1998 Richard A.Bílek. All photos and articles by Richard A.Bílek, except where noted. Feel free to spread all of these informations, but do not forget to mention your source.