Famous spa located close to german borderline were operated tramways
since 1902. After WW2, decision was taken to
convert this line to modern trolleybuses service. Construction stared
in 1950, and in 1952 was finished. On 27th April
1952 trolleybuses started to operate on first route between railway
station and spa’s centre. 5 trolleybuses of popular
czech type Skoda 7Tr was delivered. They were stored in former tramway
depot.
Next year brings extension to Lesni Pramen. Several years later, in
1959 construction of new trolleybus depot in Usovice
started too, so new route between city and Usovice was built. Also
in 1959 new trolleybuses of Skoda 8Tr type were
delivered. Old tramway depot was too small for trolleybus' fleet, so
construction of new depot in city's part Usovice stared in end of 50's.
New depot was opened in 1962, also passenger trolleybus service was introduced
on this route. One year later, first new trolleybus Skoda 9Tr arrived.
Since 1968, trolleybuses of older types were slowly scrapped, so in 1973
there were only 9Tr trolleybuses.
In 1973 also new route to Antonickuv pramen was opened. During this
time, new trolleybuses of 14Tr type were
prepared in Skoda Ostrov, but at this time, they were not given into
batch production. Both prototypes were sold to
Marianske Lazne, where they remained until 1986. Few years later, in
1980 was opened route to new housing estate
Panska Pole (close to main rly.station). Since 1981, 14Tr trolleybuses
were finally given into batch production, also first
vehicles of this type were given into service here. In 1984 was opened
important new route to Velka Hledsebe. After this
was done, trolleybuses are covering more than 90% of urban transit
needs!
Unfortunately, after 1990, trolleybus operation is drastically reduced,
so only 6 vehicles is daily in service. In 1995 also
was reneved route in historic centre. In 1996 decision was taken to
abandon whole trolleybus network and replace it with
buses. After massive protests, these plans were changed, that final
decision about this network will be taken approx. in
2002, when current 14Tr trolleybus fleet will need replacement. In
1996 also there were some changes in city's centre, so there are now two
separate single-track routes in this area.
Trolleybuses in Marianske Lazne are smallest in Czech Republic, however
it is a good example of modern kind of
transport. Although there are now serious problems with future, there
is hope to preserve trolleybuses longer.
Following lines are here in service in 1998:
2 Antoníčkův pramen – centrum
3 Antoníčkův pramen – lázeňská čtvrť
4 Panská Pole – centrum
5 Panská Pole – lázeňská čtvrť
6 lázeňská čtvrť – Velká Hleďsebe.
Following vehicles are here in service
42-49 | Škoda 14Tr | 1989-1992 |
50 | Škoda 14Tr | 1994 |