100 YEARS OF PRAHA'S METRO
V. - Welcome At Presence (1995-1998)

At the beginning of 90's there was changed look on new metrolines. Prices of everything growes up rapidly. Both new tracks of B line were studied again, if there is really need to build them, and if there maybe isn't good enough to replace them only by buses, or cheaper tramways. Also, there was problem with vehicles, because Russian cars of 81 class were no longer purchased, and there was need to obrain new vehicles.
Preparation to build new IV.B started in 1989, but real works started as later as 1992. Formerly, there was few questions about this line, finally, there was agreed with 6400 m. long route from Českomoravská across industrial zone in CKD and through Hloubetin to Cerny Most, where endstation was planned.
Construction was expected to end in 1993, later it was delayed to 1995,1996, but still, delays were bigger and bigger.
Meanwhile, change in fleet of vehicles was prepared. Fleet of russian cars was unchanged since 1990, and yet, since 1973 no cars were withdrawned, except three 81.cars, that were destroyed by fire in depot in 1987. In early 90's there was few ideas what to do with these vehicles. Only two possibilites were discussed - to modernise 81 class, or to built in Czech factories brand new vehicles. Third possibility, purchase of new planned car "J" (Yauza) from Russia was rejected.
Major czech companies - Skoda Plzen and CKD Praha started to negotiate with DP Praha about this project. Sooner, there was better chance for Skoda Plzen. In 1992, Ecs car no.1031 was withdrawned and sold to Skoda, for testing of new electric equipment, etc. Also, in 1996 five car unit 2138+2211+2250+2268+2150 was sold to Skoda, to rebuilt them to new standard. Meanwhile, however, decision was taken to built new cars in CKD Praha. Also this modernised unit was later done with cooperation between Skoda and CKD. New unit, with new No.s.3138+3211+3250+3268 +3250 was finished in Zlicin works in 1997, later was transferred to depot and shown for public. Old vehicle was quite reneved, there was major change in electric equipment, when russian-based works were replaced with semiconductor technology.
In end of 1997, tests of this new unit started, formerly without passengers. In april 1998 was this vehicle tested with passengers in normal service, but not in rush hours. There is still unknown, if more of 81 cars will be rebuilt this way, there is need to wait for comparing between rebuilt unit and new cars M1.
New type of metro, meanwhile named M1 was ordered as 22 5-car units -i.e110 vehicles. Construction of this new vehicle was quite fast, so new unit 4101+4201+4202+4203+4102 was transferred to depot Kacerov in June 1998, and was for first time shown to public on 29th June 1998.
New high-tech vehicle (see photo), designed by famous architect Patrik Kotas was also presented on 40th Industry Fair in Brno. Late 90-s design and latest electric technology inside counts this vehicle to be one of the best metrocars in Europe at this time - it can be compared very good with german type H for Berlin's Metro.
Old cars of Ecs started to be scrapped since 1995. Most important was installation of safety device PA - 135 to line C, old Ecs cars were unable to be rebuilt to meet these standards. Between 1995-1997, 80 vehicles of this type was scrapped. Last one were in service on 29th June 1997. Car 1009 was preserved, and transferred in December 1997 to Museum of Urban Transport in former tramway depot in Střešovice. Cars 1083+1084+1085 were also preserved, and saved for historic journeys.
Last one, car no 1031 is at this moment still in use, after finishing of testing rides in Skoda Plzen was sold to Siemens, and at this moment is at Siemens' test centre in north-german city Widenrrath. No other cars of Ecs type are saved.
During mid of 90's also first stations of 1A line were rebuilt. This reconstruction always taken few months, first one was closed Hradcanska station, followed Mustek and Muzeum (in these two cases these station were not fully closed), later also Staromestska was closed. Now, Namesti Miru is closed, later there also station Malostranska should be rebuilt.
Also, on Nuselsky's Bridge, there are technical problems, so there is plan to stop metro service on Saturdays and Sundays next year, and to rebuilt this bridge.
Problems with fleet were finsihed without serious problems, but construction of new IV.B line was not easy. Construciton was delayed, and in mid of 90's there was also idea to stop construction, and to continue few years later. Lack of money was a cause, that later was decided to built this line, but to open at this time only three stations, so rest two stations will be still closed. In early 1998, decision was taken to open this new line at 8th November 1998.
At this day, line was again opened by heads of City Council, etc. In evening, there started regular service, next day, monday 9th November, full service since 5.00 started, including also major changes in varied bus and tramway lines (see here for details).
New line looks very good. After old endstation Ceskomoravska, there is first new station Vysocanska, 31 m deep under surface level. Line then continues to station CKD, this station is, however not yet opened. Next one is station Hloubetin, also not yet opened. Train then reach new station Rajska Zahrada. This station (where connection between metro and railway is planned for future) is very unusual, because each train direction has it's own platform, and these platforms are in different level! (similar situatuion is also for example in Vienna on line U3 under Mariahilfestrasse). Route is extended to endstation Cerny Most, equipped with side platforms, where varied bus lines can be reached. Also, large shopping area is located very soon. Trains runs between Rajska Zahrada and Cerny Most inside bridge, so there is same solution as on Nuselsky Most and in Luziny...

This is end of history of Praha's metro at this time. Well, there is future. At first, there is need to finish two remaining stations on line B. There is hope to open these station in 1999, but there can also happen, than these stations will be opened in 2001. At this time, no new line is under construction. There is already planned, to extend until 2010 line C in northern direction to Ladvi (2005) and to Letnany (2008). There is also hope to open first piece of new line D between Namesti Miru and Pisnice (southern part of city) in 2009. Until 2020, is expected to extend D line to Vysocanska station, and to extend line A from Strasnicka to Hostivar, and from Skalka to Sterboholy.
Also, second entrances to several stations are planned. This includes Hradcanska (connection with railway station in Dejvice), Staromestska (direct exit to Old Town Square), and Zelivskeho (exit to new bussiness centrum) on Line A, and also on Mustek and Narodni Trida on line B. And there also outsanding exits on Strasnicka and Stodulky, they also need to be finished. At this time, there are no plans to built circle line E, or to built extension of line A to airport.

Prospects are bright, there is only need to obtain money. We can however hope, that after next 100  years, there will be chance to write about new things again...

End Of Article
 

 Stations built in years 1995-1998:
Line Station's name uspořádání Station's deep under surface level No.Of Entrances
IV.B. Vysočanská three halls 31 m  2 (second is not finished)
IV.B. ČKD (not opened) three halls 26 m 1
IV.B. Hloubětín (not opened) three halls 26 m 1
IV.B. Rajská zahrada every direction is located in it's own floors, two separate platforms surface direct entrance/exit from platforms
IV.B. Černý Most one hall, side platforms surface direct entrance/exit from platforms

Changes in metro's fleet, red new vehicles, blue withdrawns
Year  Type of vehicle Amount Numbers Total
1995 Ečs scrapped ca. 20 v. - 568
1996 81.7171 2 2138,2150  
1996 81.7141 3 2211,2250,2268  
1996 Ečs scrapped ca. 30 v. - 533
1997 81.7171 modernised 2 3138,3150  
1997 81.7141 modernised 3 3211,3250,3268  
1997 Ečs scrapped ca. 34 v. - 504
1998 81.7171 4 2111,2122,2129,2231  
1998 M1 (with cabin) cca.10 4101-4110  
1998 M1 (vithout cabin) cca.15 4201-4215 525
Opening of new metrolines
At end 1994, there was 43,4 km of metro lines
IV.B 8.11.1998 Českomoravská - Černý Most 6,4 km
During this period, 6,4 km was opened. There is 49,8 km of metro at service at end of year 1998.
 
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