URBAN TRANSPORT NEWS 3/2000

Brno: In February 2000 were delivered low floor trolleybuses Škoda 21Tr No. 3011-3015. Allbatch scheduled for 1999 is completed. In year 2000 is expected purchase of 15 trolleybuses (Škoda 21Tr, 3016-3030) and 40 buses (no trams) 

Current bus line 140 will be converted for trolleybus service this year, and shall be opened on 1st September 2000. At this moment, 14Tr or 21Tr trolleybuses will be here in service; later is planned service with articulated low-floor cars 22Tr.

Trolleybus Škoda 14Tr No.3173 was sold to Technical Museum of Brno. Thus, it becomes first 14Tr museum trolleybus in Czech Republic

Since 15Th April is in service again line of historic tram. This year it has No.100 and route goes from Namesti Svobody to depot in Pisarky. There is hourly service every Saturday and Sunday. As a curiosity, there will be one night ride at around 22.00

Hradec Králové: In March and April, another 6 low floor cars Skoda 21Tr were delivered (No.43-48). It means, that there are now 16 cars (33-48) of this type in service. With exception of two cars 33 and 34 that were delivered in city livery, all other cars are delivered with all-white livery, to allow advertisement painting in future. 

This year is planned purchase of two 15TrM cars. On other hand, quite ambitious plan that expected purchase of about 40 cars in next three years will not be materialized in full size.

Articulated car 15TrM No.75 was modernized.

Jihlava: 1200 meters long new trolleybus route Staré Hory – Horní Kosov was opened with two months delay on 28.2.2000. It starts approx. 100 meters before former loop Stare Hory and goes to housing estate in Horni Kosov. Although there was planned to keep old loop intact, it was later cut off, so no service to Stare Hory can be provided now.

Also, there were not renumbered trolleybus lines to numbers 11-15. There is still used „numbering“ with letters (A, B, B1, C a E). On new route is line C in service, other lines were not modified. As an extension of fleet, two low-floor cars 50 and 51 were purchased. For next years, extension in Kosov and new route to Bedrichov are planned

Liberec:It was decied to build unified tram-train system based on Karlsruhe model. As first stage is planned conversion of interurban Liberec – Jablonec tramway route. This line should be rebuilt to normal gauge (mostly double-track) only between Liberec and Vratislavice. For remaining part from Vratislavice to Jablonec, current railway route electrified at 600 Volts should be used. This should be completed prior 2007. As additional extensions are planned new routes to Harrachov (famous ski center), Smrzovka and even german city Zittau. This is, however planned for 2010-2015 years)

Olomouc: In regular service are already both modernised cars T3 161 a 152. These cars are usually on service on lines 3 or 5. Third car No.158 was sent to Ostrava for modernization that will be done in same style as 161 and 152 cars, but with IGBT electric equipment Alsthom Progress. 

All four Astra cars are in regular service. On 17th March were all cars on line 1, which means that for first time in Czech Republic was one tramway line served exclusively with low-floor cars. Another two Astras No.205 and 206 are ordered for 2000.

Ostrava: At end of February, two low-floor cars Škoda 21Tr No.3305 a 3306 were delivered. In 1999 were modernised trolleybuses Škoda 15Tr No.3512, 3505, 3513, 3504 a 3508 (in this order). They have now similar body as 15TrM cars, and they also have modernised interior 

Plzeň: Astra trams No. 304-307 are already in regular service. On lines 1 and 2 are already displayed “guaranteed” services with low floor cars. At this moment, both lines are served with 2 articulated cars. For that year are ordered another three cars 308-310. It is planned to provide low-floor car service on busiest line 4 too, but it probably mean capacity problems.

Prototype of bi-modal trolleybus Škoda 21TrACI is under No.479 on trials on line No.16. City plans to purchase six cars of this type, there is already planned construction of new line to suburb Vinice (northern direction) and there is a wish of a city not to erect any poles and wires on central square Namesti Republiky.

For this year it is planned to extend trolleybus line No.11 from Hrbitov towards new hypermarket Tesco (approx. 400 meters)

Pardubice: Celebrations of 50 years of urban transport were held on modified term on 1st and 2nd April. Sadly, it was not finished refurbishment of historic 8Tr trolleybus (ex. Praha 9493) so as a replacement, Skoda 8Tr 9494 from museum of urban transport Praha was hired. There was also present Skoda 7Tr No.31 from Brno, both Pardubice’s museum 9Tr cars 353 and 358 and low-floor 21Tr from Hradec Králové. There was also day of open door in trolleybus depot, where also varied historic and modern buses were displayed.

Praha: In Skoda Plzeň already runs refurbishment process of cars of Praha’s metro. Current units are slightly different than first one (that is already certificated for passenger service, but rarely used). Second unit will be transferred to Praha in end of April, and should be in passenger service until end of August. In year 2000 total of 7 units (35 cars) will be modernized.

Metro station Malostranská was re-opened after refurbishment on 29th March.

Finally will start refurbishment of T3 tramcars. As a prototype, 6554 car was rebuilt using electric equipment Alsthom Progress (no other changes were made). Additional refurbishment will be done in Pars DMN Sumperk, and already is selected 20 cars from 65xx batch. These cars will receive Alsthom Progress electric equipment, new driver’s cabin, new passenger seats, and new passenger information system. Also, vehicles will be renumbered to new row 8211. Car 6554 will be transferred to Sumperk too, for interior refurbishment only, car will then receive No.8210.

At these days, car 8200 was finally returned back to transport company and will be on service with passengers in depot Strasnice. It is former “prototype” of refurbishment. Car was rebuilt in 1994 from 7007 car and has TV-8 thyristor electric equipment, new drivers cabin, and other details. This car will be on service on line 19, this line can be now named “cabinet of curiosities” as all unsuccessful attempts of modernization (8200, 8205 and 8600) are in service there.

In central workshop, there is already second prototype of T3 cars No.6102 (built 1961) that should be restored back to original state, and will be used by museum as “commercial” vehicle, i.e. can be hired or used on service on historic line 91. Completion is planned to August, and then second prototype of T-1 car No.5002 (built 1952) shall be restored for similar purpose.

Ústí nad Labem:There is already bigger amount of vehicles on road (currently 55 of 64 cars in rush hours), so purchase of additional two 15TrM cars is planned for this year (561 and 562). City also has interest for articulated low-floor vehicles 22Tr. Because these cars will be probably not approved for regular passenger service on this year, a hire of one of prototypes is planned.

Industry/Škoda Ostrov: It is hoped, that in this year will be finally finished all tests of articulated low floor cars Škoda 22Tr. There are already three prototypes build (two older, “red” and “blue” and one new “again red”). Older “red” that was already on tests with passengers in varied cities and is together with “blue” on trials on test route Ostrov-Jachymov. Third car, new “red” was moved to Skoda Plzeň, and new electric equipment similar to latest 21Tr is now being installed there.

First prototype of Škoda 21Tr (was on trials in Chomutov and Ceske Budejovice) will be destroyed during crash-test this year.

Prototype of bi-modal trolleybus (not duobus, as there is only limited power of diesel engine) was approved for passenger service and is under No.479 (although not yet property of transport company) in Plzeň (see above). This type is already officially prepared for possible orders with delivery term on end of this year. There might be interesting, that this car is not completely build in Skoda Ostrov (only body), but is then completed in “mothership” Skoda Plzeň company.

Manufacturing of Skoda 14TrM in Russian Vologda goes successfully. At this time, one 14TrM is on trials on Moscow (surprisingly it is only second trolleybus that is in service here, first one was Skoda Sanos No.007 (property of James Bond?) on end of 80’s). Moscow planned purchase of large quantities of new car, so possible delivery looks like very good business.

Overview of trolleybus production for 1999 (some cars were delivered even early 2000). In brackets are fleet numbers where known.


 

City

Amount of 14TrM cars

Amount of 15TrM cars

Amount of 21Tr cars

Brno

-

-

15 (3001-3015)

České Budějovice

-

-

2 (45-46)

Jihlava

-

-

4 (48-51)

Hradec Králové

-

-

4 (39-42)

Pardubice

8 (377-384)

-

-

Ostrava

-

-

2 (3305,3306)

Zlín

-

5 (352-356)

-

Bratislava/ Slovakia

-

5 (6622-6626)

-

Banská Bystrica/ Slovakia

-

1 (1529)

-

Košice/ Slovakia

7 (2001-2007)

5 (1016-1020)

-

Prešov/ Slovakia

2 (119-120)

2 (117-118)

-

Žilina/Slovakia

-

3 (235-237)

-

Riga/Latvia

1

-

-

Almaty/Kazachstan

2

-

-

Vilnius/Lithuania

23

-

-

San Francisco/USA

-

1 (only chassis, type 15TrSF)

-

Total

43

22

27

Additionally, there was one incomplete 22Tr built for company purposes as noted above. In that table are not included those cars that are build in joint-venture companies outside of Skoda Ostrov. (Vologda - Russia and ETI Baltimore – USA)

Slovakia – Trenčianská Teplá: Since 27th February is without service route Trenčianská Teplá – Trenčianské Teplice! At this day there was derailment of one of cars, and after measurement of rail parameters, service was suspended immediately and replaced with buses. Fate of this light electric railway is now unknown because of poor financial situation of railways of Slovak Republic

Slovakia – Žilina: Trolleybus Škoda 15TrM No.237, that was due to unpaid custom’s taxes stored in trolleybus depot in Ostrava was finally transferred to Žilina on end of March.