News 4/2000

URBAN TRANSPORT NEWS 4/2000

General: For the first time in history, this year was timetable of urban transport in lot of Czech cities changed on 28.May, i.e. on same day as railway timetable.

Brno: 100th Anniversary of electric tramways was celebrated on 3rd and 4th June. In general, there was same amount of events as last year (130 years of tramway). On Friday, there was day of open door in bus and trolleybus depot in Slatina and in tramway depot Medlanky, on Saturday there was tramway convoy across the city, exhibition on central square and afternoon rides with historic vehicles. On Sunday there was new event – parade of Brno’s tramways on the track close to Vystaviste.

Liberec: Regauging of tramway route between Kubelikova and Horni Hanychov is in delay and will not be completed this year.

Low floor car RT6S no.85 (which was without service since end of last year) was again completed and is now (technically) ready for regular service. However, it looks that there is need to ride test rides again, so it is not expected that car will return to streets prior September.

As supplementary information to Regio-Tram project (see last issue) was announced, that there is also plan to reach polish city Jelenia Góra (Hirchsberg) with this tramway.

Jablonec nad Nisou: Former tramway depot in Jablonec has now inside torso of former trailer No.182 that was transported here recently. This car was built as a coach in 1932 in Graz factory and delivered to Marianske Lazne (Marienbad) as No.7. After closure of this network, this car was moved to Teplice (49), Most (16) and finally to Jablonec (182) where was used as trailer only. After closure of Jablonec’s network, car was moved to village Paseky and used there as a shed. There is hope to restore this car as a historic one. There was already first surprise, when plate with text “build 1903” was discovered. It looks, that this car was not a new one (in 1932) but rebuilt from some mysterious older vehicle.

Olomouc: Since 28th May is night transport service not provided with tramway. Instead of nightlines 2 and 4, bus lines 51,52,53 are in service

Ostrava: Since 28th May was resumed tramway service via old Vitkovice in Ruska street. At same time, additional changes in tramway scheme was adopted.

1: supplementary service formerly ended at Hotelovy Dum Jindrich were extended to Main rly.station (as rest of services)

2: returned back to service across Vitkovice and Dul Hlubina

3: new route Vozovna Poruba – rly.station Svinov – Mariánské náměstí – Mírové náměstí – hotelový dům Hlubina – Jubilejní kolonie – rly.station Vítkovice,

4: shortened to route Martinov – hotelový dům Jindřich,

6: new route Dubina – rly.station.Vítkovice – Výškovice (service every 60 minut),

11: new route Zabreh - Vystaviste

13: no more in service

14: extended to route Dubina – Vystaviste - Hranecnik

15: no more in service

18: no more in service

19: only night service in route Dubina – Mírové nám. - Martinov

All other lines without change.

Plzeň: New timetable since 28th May. On same time, there is no more service on tramway lines 3 and 5. These lines were in service since end of 80’s and were used for transport of workers from Kosutka (3) and Bolevec (5) to Skoda factory. Lines were in service only in rush hours, and only few trams in a day. At this time, there are only 3 tramway lines in Plzen (1 (Bolevec – Slovany) ,2 (Světovar – Skvrňany) a 4 (Košutka – Bory)).

Praha: In April was withdrawn T3 car No.6103, oldest operational T3 of the world. Now there is oldest Praha’s car No.6124, however older former Praha’s car No. 6115 is in service in Liberec.

On metro station Malostranska was installed information desk, that is able to inform passengers about times in which they can expect next 4 tramway services. There is hope to install this device on other important stations as well.

T3 car 6554 modernized with thyristor electric equipment Alsthom-Progress is in service with passengers. Most often, they complain about strange sounds inside of tramway.

On 18th June 2000 celebration of 75 years of bus transport was held. On bus loop Jizni mesto were displayed varied historic and modern buses (including those from Technical museum Brno) and also book about history was for sale.

Ústí nad Labem: Since 28th May, was shortened service on trolleybus network. Lines 51-57 are in service every 15 mins (formerly every 12 mins), line 58 is in service every 30 minutes. Old line 59 (served by 14Tr cars) was after short time suspended, instead new line 59 on route Klíše lázně – Pod Vyhlídkou was established, but 15Tr cars provide this service again.