Praha's tramway history

PRAHA (PRAGUE), TRAMWAY HISTORY

SUMMARY:

Opening Date 23.09.1875

Gauge 1435 mm

Voltage 600 V dc

Maximum Track Length 150,9 km (1959)

Current Track Length 136,6 km

No.Of Cars 800 (approx.)

No.Of Depots 7 (8th as a museum)

Maximum No.Of Lines 32 (1976-1979)

Current No.Of Lines 23 (additional 8 in night)*

*Standalone night lines started to operate on 3rd November 1985. Sooner 7 or 8 lines was running 24 hrs a day.

Praha (Prague), is now capital and biggest city of Czech Republic (1.200.000) It now operates the biggest Czech tramway network with approx. 136 km of track and approx. 800 vehicles. History is more than 120 years long. It started with a horsecar in 1875, when Belgian company lead by Eduard Otlett opened on 23rd September first tramway line. Company had originally 30 vehicles with 65 horses in service. Until 1893 (when last line of horse tramway opens) this network expanded to approx. 35 km. Horse-drawn tramways were slow, but popular here. Time flies... First electric tramway runs in German capital Berlin in 1879, however it was experimental only. Two years later W. Siemens opened in Berlin again first public line.

Famous czech electric inventor F. Krizik was also very keen on electric transport. He worked together with W. Siemens, after splitting he started to design his own tramway systems. In 1891, during National Centennial Exhibition in Praha he opened first electric tramway line with two vehicles. This line was very succesful, however after closure of exhibition it was only rarely used by public. In 1895 Fr. Krizik spread his wings over newly built tramway line Praha - Liben - Vysocany from Praha to industrial suburbs on east of Praha. Here was great success! Most of this line is still in service as one of the most important of Praha's tramway lines.

Western suburb Smichov was connected with Praha with electric tramway in 1896. However, owner of this tramway M. Hlavacek, Mayor of Smichov was after construction in serious commercial troubles, and commited suicide soon after this tramway line was opened. In 1897 was also opened Tramway of Kralovske Vinohrady on southern east of Praha, again with courtesy of F.Krizik. City council was very disappointed with co-operation of owner of horse-drawn tramway. After few tries city took control over horse-drawn tramway in 1898 and immediately started to rebuilt it to electric tramway. All of the lines of tramway were rebuilt until 1901, with one exception, with very short line over Charles Bridge, one of the oldest European stone bridges, built 1357-1362. Horse-drawn tramway survived here until 1905. In this year it was rebuilt to electric tramway too, but not with overhead wires, but with third electric rail in mid of track. Several tramcars were adapted for this line, although they could run with overhead wires too. Tramcar No.180 was photographed here and this picture was very famous not only in Czech Republic, so when City gave one tramcar to UK Tram Museum in Crich, another tramcar (with same serial no.) was renumbered to 180.

But back into 1907. All of another private tramway lines were sold to city at least this year. In 1908 tramcars introduced for first time line numbers instead of colors. Network was expanded up to 92 km in 1914. In the years of WW1 tramways ran in less quantity. In 1915 last batch of tramcars for several years was delivered. Old Austrian Monarchy crashed in October 1918. 28th October 1918 was announced new country - so called Czecho-moravian Republic, but only two days later was joined together with Slovakia into Czechoslovakia. Praha was a new capital. In 1922 was Praha joined together with satelite cities in Velka Praha (Big Praha), but this name was not used and we still have Prague. Expansion of network started in 1919 and until 1938 it growes up from 92 to 134 km. New tramcars were delivered. Regular bus service was inaugurated in 1923 and buses started to cooperate with tramways. After WW1 there was 14 lines in service, in 1938 there was 23 lines. New progressive tramways were built too, but Czechoslovak government decided to buy licence for US tramways "PCC" type (President's Commitee Car). However this decision was made shortly before WW2, so it was not completed in this time. German troops invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939. One of their first decisions was, that all transport should be right-sided. It was quickly changed over. Tramways ran with big problems in years of war. There was a hope to built new tramway tracks into Letnany, where were new military works, but these plans were rejected in 1943. In April 1945 the city was badly damaged by US Bombers. War ended here on 9th May 1945 and after one week first tramway line started to operate again. But consolidation was not ready until November 1945. In 1948 communist goverment started to rule here. They want to expand tramway and trolleybus network (opened 1936) as much as possible. Also, licence from US was purchased and in 1951 first prototype of tramcar T1 was given into service. Up to 133 of these were purchased. Tramway tracks expanded into its maximum 152 km in 1959. In 1958 Praha also has 110 km of trolleybuses. In the early 60's time changed for electric traction... Goverment decided to expand buses rather than electric traction. Tramways should be preserved in two ways - in far suburbs, and also for underground tramway in the mid of Praha. There were plans to close rest of tramways before 1980. In 1966 they started to build first line of underground tramway. There were many protests against, because of weak capacity of underground tramway. Building stopped in 1967 and plans were changed to built classic underground (tube) here. There also were plans to withdraw all tramways (maybe with exception of industrial east of Praha) and all trolleybuses and replace it with buses. Trolleybuses really didn't survive, last line was closed in 16th October 1972. But opinions of tramway role changed, once again with oil crisis in the mid of 70s. First tube was opened in 1974. With construction of another tube lines tramways were withdrawn from historic city, so in 1978 we had only 128 km of track. But again new lines were built and city still wants to expand tramways into new housing estates. Last line was opened on 25th May 1995 into Modrany. Few new lines is already planned now, in 2001 there ought to be new line to Barrandow, in 2002 into Komorany (with new depot) and in 2004 new bridge accross the river Vltava. In this year tramway should have 153 km of track, real maximum in history. Tramways should run with cooperation with tube (now 46 km of track)...

City now operates with Czech tramways only. In years 1962-1976 huge batch of 892 tramcars of type T3 was delivered, approx. 450 still in service there. From 1983 to 1990 similar type T3SUor T3SUCS was delivered with 292 pcs., all of them (with one exception) still in service. City also purchased double-ended tramway of KT8D5 type, but this is not very popular here. Although this tramcar should replace all of old tramways only 45 are now in service. In 1995 city started to operate with new modern tramway of type T6B5, 130 was delivered until end of 1996, next 20 vehicles should arrive this year. 4pcs of new low-floor tramway was purchased also in end of 1996. Praha also operate several special sightseeing trams, also historic tramways. City uses 7 tram depots, it has 24 day lines, 7 nightlines. Currently tramcars can be seen with these numbers:

6092 Tramcar of type T1, in 1976 (after accident) rebuilt to T3

6102..6992 Classic tramcar of T3 type

7001..7020 Tramcars of type T3SU (seats 2+1), delivered in 1983

7021..7292 Tramcars of type T3SUCS (seats 1+1)

8005..8106 Some of classic tramcars of T3 type were rebuilt to T3M type with different electricity. But their look was unchanged

8601..8680 Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1995 (seats 1+1)

8681..8730 Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1996 (seats 2+1)

8731..8750 Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1997 (seats 2+1)

9001..9048 Double-ended tramcars of type KT8D5 (three withdrawed)

9101..9104 Tramcars RT6N1. After September 1997 in regular service, protoype 9051 (property of factory) exists too

5500 Tramcar of type T4YU (seats 2+2). Used for sightseeing

5601,5602 Tramcars of type T3, rebuilt to sightseeing trams (also 2+2 seats)

55xx Special tramways (not for passenger services), approx. 25 vehicles

Following lines are in operation:

Line 1 Spojovaci st. - Petriny, 2-car trains

Line 2 Petriny - Cerveny Vrch, 1-ca trains, rush hours only

Line 3 Sidl.Modrany - Hloubetin, Lehovec, 2-car trains

Line 4 Sidliste Repy - Kubanske nam., 2-car trains

Line 5 Depot Kobylisy - Hloubetin, 1-car trains, Harfa-Hloubetin rush hours only

Line 6 Na Knizeci st. - Cechovo nam. (sq.), 2-car trains, Monday to Friday only

Line 7 Sidliste Repy - Central Workshop, 2-car trains (1-car trains Sat, Sun), Sidliste Repy - Kotlarka
and Cernokostelecka st.- Central Workshop rush hours only

Line 8 Hloubetin, Lehovec - Bila Hora, 2-car trains

Line 9 Spojovaci st. - Sidlist Repy. 2-car trains

Line 11 Central Workshop - Sporilov, 2-car trains

Line 12 Hlubocepy - Sidliste Dablice, 2-car trains

Line 14 Laurova st. - Depot Kobylisy, 1-car trains

Line 16 Spojovaci st. - Branik, rly.station, 2-car trains

Line 17 Sidliste Modrany - Sidliste Dablice, 2-car trains

Line 18 Depot Pankrac - Petriny, 2-car trains

Line 19 Kubanske nam.- Hloubetin, 2-car trains, Sat Sun 1-car trains only (Vysocany - Hloubetin rush hours only)

Line 20 Hotel International - Divoka Sarka, 2-car trains

Line 21 Sidliste Modrany - Narodni Divadlo (National Theatre), 2-car trains, rush hours only

Line 22 Bila Hora - Hostivar, rly.station, 2-car trains

Line 24 Sidliste Dablice - Radosovicka st., 2-car trains

Line 25 Sidliste Dablice - Hotel International, 2-car trains

Line 26 Hostivar, rly.station - Divoka Sarka, 2-car trains

Line 34 Kotlarka - Kubanske nam., 2-car trains, rush hours only

Line 51 Radosovicka st. - Divoka Sarka, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 52 Hlubocepy - Hloubetin, Lehovec, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 53 Depot Kobylisy - Depot Pankrac, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 54 Sidliste Modrany - Sidliste Dablice, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 55 Hloubetin, Lehovec - Central Workshop, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 56 Petriny - Sporilov, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 57 Hostivar rly.station - Bila Hora, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

Line 58 Spojovaci st. - Sidliste Repy, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train

For the information about museum or historic vehicles please click on links

Opening Date	23.09.1875
Gauge	1435 mm
Voltage	600 V dc
Maximum Track Length	150,9 km (1959)
Current Track Length	136,6 km
No.Of Cars	800 (approx.)
No.Of Depots	7 (8th as a museum)
Maximum No.Of Lines	32 (1976-1979)
Current No.Of Lines	23 (additional 8 in night)*

6092	Tramcar of type T1, in 1976 (after accident) rebuilt to T3
6102..6992	Classic tramcar of T3 type
7001..7020	Tramcars of type T3SU (seats 2+1), delivered in 1983
7021..7292	Tramcars of type T3SUCS (seats 1+1)
8005..8106	Some of classic tramcars of T3 type were rebuilt to T3M type with different electricity. But their look was unchanged
8601..8680	Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1995 (seats 1+1)
8681..8730	Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1996 (seats 2+1)
8731..8750	Tramcars T6B5 delivered in 1997 (seats 2+1)
9001..9048	Double-ended tramcars of type KT8D5 (three withdrawed)
9101..9104	Tramcars RT6N1. After September 1997 in regular service, protoype 9051 (property of factory) exists too
5500	Tramcar of type T4YU (seats 2+2). Used for sightseeing
5601,5602	Tramcars of type T3, rebuilt to sightseeing trams (also 2+2 seats)
55xx	Special tramways (not for passenger services), approx. 25 vehicles

Line 1	Spojovaci st. - Petriny, 2-car trains
Line 2	Petriny - Cerveny Vrch, 1-ca trains, rush hours only
Line 3	Sidl.Modrany - Hloubetin, Lehovec, 2-car trains
Line 4	Sidliste Repy - Kubanske nam., 2-car trains
Line 5	Depot Kobylisy - Hloubetin, 1-car trains, Harfa-Hloubetin rush hours only
Line 6	Na Knizeci st. - Cechovo nam. (sq.), 2-car trains, Monday to Friday only
Line 7	Sidliste Repy - Central Workshop, 2-car trains (1-car trains Sat, Sun), Sidliste Repy - Kotlarka and Cernokostelecka st.- Central Workshop rush hours only
Line 8	Hloubetin, Lehovec - Bila Hora, 2-car trains
Line 9	Spojovaci st. - Sidlist Repy. 2-car trains
Line 11	Central Workshop - Sporilov, 2-car trains
Line 12	Hlubocepy - Sidliste Dablice, 2-car trains
Line 14	Laurova st. - Depot Kobylisy, 1-car trains
Line 16	Spojovaci st. - Branik, rly.station, 2-car trains
Line 17	Sidliste Modrany - Sidliste Dablice, 2-car trains
Line 18	Depot Pankrac - Petriny, 2-car trains
Line 19	Kubanske nam.- Hloubetin, 2-car trains, Sat Sun 1-car trains only (Vysocany - Hloubetin rush hours only)
Line 20	Hotel International - Divoka Sarka, 2-car trains
Line 21	Sidliste Modrany - Narodni Divadlo (National Theatre), 2-car trains, rush hours only
Line 22	Bila Hora - Hostivar, rly.station, 2-car trains
Line 24	Sidliste Dablice - Radosovicka st., 2-car trains
Line 25	Sidliste Dablice - Hotel International, 2-car trains
Line 26	Hostivar, rly.station - Divoka Sarka, 2-car trains
Line 34	Kotlarka - Kubanske nam., 2-car trains, rush hours only
Line 51	Radosovicka st. - Divoka Sarka, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 52	Hlubocepy - Hloubetin, Lehovec, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 53	Depot Kobylisy - Depot Pankrac, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 54	Sidliste Modrany - Sidliste Dablice, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 55	Hloubetin, Lehovec - Central Workshop, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 56	Petriny - Sporilov, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 57	Hostivar rly.station - Bila Hora, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train
Line 58	Spojovaci st. - Sidliste Repy, night line (23-4.30), 1-car train