Premiere for Prague’s new tram: the Škoda 52T is now operating with passengers for the first time as part of a trial run. Following earlier tests without passengers, it will undergo extensive evaluation in regular service over the coming months.
The Škoda 52T tram is now carrying passengers in Prague for the first time. On Friday, Prague Public Transport marked the official start of trial operations on Line 12. The city has signed a contract for the delivery of up to 200 trams by the end of 2023, with 20 units scheduled for delivery this year.
After completing the first phase of vehicle certification, Prague Public Transport launched passenger trials with Škoda 52T tram number 9503. As stipulated by the Czech Railway Authority, the tram must cover 20,000 kilometres during this phase. The test runs will initially operate daily on Line 12, between Sídliště Barrandov and Lehovec.
The first journey with the new Škoda 52T tram departed on Friday at 12:51 p.m. from the Lehovec turning loop towards Sídliště Barrandov. The trial phase with passengers is expected to last approximately three months.
The new trams are 100% low-floor and offer significantly greater comfort than the models previously used. The interior is more spacious, featuring wider aisles between segments, and the entire air conditioning system uses a natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant.
The trams are also equipped with a modern information system to assist with passenger orientation during travel. Technological innovations such as axle-mounted bogies, electromechanical brakes, and energy recovery systems ensure lower maintenance costs and reduced energy consumption. These features make the new trams not only an environmentally friendly choice for urban transport but also an economically efficient one.
More than 230 suppliers are involved in the development and production of the new trams for Prague, 76% of whom are based in the Czech Republic.
