[Czech Republic] Tramways and Tram Lines

[historyworks]

This was one of my favourite threads on CE forum, now well-buried in European Forums archives. I thought I might establish a CZ thread and start it with a link from the old thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...central+europe

I hope that is OK? There may also be other CE threads also worth continuing on a country-specific basis.

[kokpit]

^ sure it's OK, we are glad you contribute to our so far bit deserted forum

[ov_79]

Let's start this thread with a survey. In a patriotic way :

Czech republic is a traditional tram power.
CKD Praha tram division had been world's largest tram producer +/- in 1960-1990.
CKD trams are still to see in all European ex-communist countries except Poland.
The fame of CKD trams is over, but czech tram producers play an important role in world market (Inekon Ostrava company supplies trams for tram network in Seattle, for exapmle) again.
In 2008 there work 7 tram networks in the Czech republic, incl. all cities popluated 100,000+. Well, 6 of them in country total ...

Tram networks in Czech rep.:

Praha; pop 1,190,000
26 day and 9 night lines; 141 km of tracks
Brno; pop 370,000
13 lines; 70 km of tracks
Ostrava; pop 310,000
14 day and 2 night lines; 66 km of tracks
Plzeň; pop 165,000
3 lines; 18 km of tracks
Olomouc pop 105,000
5 lines; 14 km of tracks
Liberec pop 105,000
4 lines; 22 km of tracks (one line goes to neighbour town of Jablonec, pop 44,000)
Most pop 70,000 and Litvinov pop 25,000
common network; 5 lines; 15 km of tracks

Cancelled tram networks in a past :

Bohumín
České Budějovice; replaced by trolley-buses
Český Těšín
Jablonec nad Nisou; 1 line connecting Jablonec with Liberec works as a part of Liberec network
Jihlava; replaced by trolley-buses
Mariánské Lázně; replaced by trolley-buses
Opava; replaced by trolley-buses
Teplice; replaced by trolley-buses
Ústí nad Labem; replaced by trolley-buses

P.S.:

Czech rep. is also a trolley-bus power. Historyworks, would you find it reasonable to add trolley-buses issue under this thread? Or, eventually, to make it's own thread?

[historyworks]

Originally Posted by ov_79

Czech rep. is also a trolley-bus power. Historyworks, would you find it reasonable to add trolley-buses issue under this thread? Or, eventually, to make it's own thread?

Thanks for asking my opinion ov_79, but I feel too humble to make a ruling not being Czech! In one way it is logical, or perhaps it might be better to start a bus thread covering buses generally - trolleybus is more a bus than a tram. Just my opinion.

When you say CKD, is that where Tatra trams were produced? T3 production numbered about 15,000 I believe. Is this a record for one tram type in the world?

[ov_79]

Originally Posted by historyworks

I feel too humble to make a ruling not being Czech!

Do not hesitate, if you find an interesting topic . Kokpit calls this forum deserted, so any cactus is welcomed...

Originally Posted by historyworks

trolleybus is more a bus than a tram. Just my opinion.

It logically is. In paradox, legislative defines trolley-bus as a "trackbed". Trolley-buses do not have vehicle license number for example and in matter of administrative are understood the same way as trams.

Originally Posted by historyworks

When you say CKD, is that where Tatra trams were produced? T3 production numbered about 15,000 I believe. Is this a record for one tram type in the world?

Yes. Nowadays, there are Skoda, Tatra and Inekon tram producers in the Czech republic as far as I know. T3 is one general model which has several semi-models or versions... 15,000 T3 in the world... that sounds as a reasonable number; where did you find this info anyway?

Let allow occasional discuss on trolley-bus issue in this thread , o.k.?

[historyworks]

T3 info from Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_T3

(number is under 14,000 sorry, my memory was an approximation)

Is the Tatra tram brand still produced in CZ, I didn't know? I knew about Skoda and Inekon. At one time I think they had an alliance but this fell apart. Inekon complained about Skoda's lack of marketing expertise in the export market. I hope they can lift their game because they could have potential hot export property with the 15T.

I am happy with trolley buses on this thread. I recall the philosophy was different in British countries (UK, Australia, NZ), they were registered as buses. Now I think they are only in NZ, but I remember travelling on them in Australia - sometimes turning a corner the bus would go left and the trolley poles would go straight ahead and the driver would have to get out and move the poles!

[Ivanski]

btw I should say you produce really good trams ..the only decent we have by now are Czech

[historyworks]

I found this in Radio Prague news today:
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/103777

[HiRazor]

Skoda ForCity's (15T) first export success: Skoda to deliver 20 ForCity trams to Riga.

The tram (type designation Skoda 17T) is a 100% low-floor, air-conditioned tram, derived from the most recent Skoda tram design, the 15T of which the city of Prague has ordered 250 units. Riga has firm orders on 20 units of 17T and options for additional 32 units. Currently there are about 250 trams running in Riga. Many of them czech built former CKD trams (now Siemens kolejová vozidla).

It's not Skoda's first export success in Riga. Deliveries of Skoda made low-floor trolleybuses (based on Iveco Irisbus bodyshell) of which the city of Riga ordered 150, is underway. Another low-floor trolleybuses based on polish Solaris buses are being delivered by another Skoda subsidiary, Budapest (Hungary) based Ganz-Skoda.

[historyworks]

I was first with this news on 30 April!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...&postcount=380

(But I admit you will always be a better source than me HiRazor!)

So is 17T the bidirectional version? With air-conditioning Skoda can have a big potential market for this in three Australian cities if they do their marketing right. Sydney and Adelaide will be needing more lowfloor trams and Melbourne has to replace hundreds of old high-floors to comply with accessibility legislation. We need a demo model out here.

[ov_79]

HiRazor:
Nice to read about any succesfull export of czech trams. Riga follows quality ! Re-powering czech tram production rules ...

[Norkey]

Riga is developing fast so they needs more trams.. interesting..

[Herzarsen]

Thats great news for Skoda.

Note that Riga does not have metro and so Trams are its primary focus in rail transport.


Prague Tram extension to Radlicka metro station is progressing nicely.

Photos from April 20, 2008.













More photos can be found on this page.

http://www.prazsketramvaje.cz/view.p...nku=2008042902

[headshottt]

Nice photos, thanks Herzarsen

[Obelixx]

Which is the longest trip, which you can do with a tram in Czech?
In Germany it is a journey from Herten to Krefeld

Which are the nicest overland lines in Czech?
In Germany Kirnitzschtalbahn ( http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramvaj...v_Bad_Schandau ) just a few kilometres away from the Czech border is very nice.

[Herzarsen]

I am also adding extension of Radlicka tram line map. The extension construction images are above.




---------------------


Obelixx, interesting questions. I was able to find some answers.

Longest line in Prague is Line 3 with the length more than 40 kilometers. And probably the most scenic tram line in Prague is Line 22 with which you can see Square of the Peace, Prague Castle, National Theatre, Hvezda Summer Palace and much more. But if you are looking for naturally scenic route, then hopefully someone from the Liberec region can enlighten us.

[kokpit]

^ 40 km? It's 22,5 km, I don't know if it's the longest one in Prague http://194.213.60.4/idos/Route.aspx?...2=10:06&tt=pid

[ov_79]

Originally Posted by Obelixx

Which is the longest trip, which you can do with a tram in Czech?
In Germany it is a journey from Herten to Krefeld

Which are the nicest overland lines in Czech?
In Germany Kirnitzschtalbahn ( http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramvaj...v_Bad_Schandau ) just a few kilometres away from the Czech border is very nice.

How long is Herten - Krefeld (Ruhrgebiet, right?)?

Overland, hmmm:
In Prague, line 22 Bila Hora - Nadrazi Hostivar is supposed to be most picturesque.
In Brno, line 11 Bystrc - Lesna, Certova rokle probably the one to recommend
In Ostrava, line 9 Poruba, Vresinska - Nova Hut is literally overlad. Troppau Silesia - Moravia - Teschen Silesia in few kilometres, ...
In Olomouc, line 4, Pavlovičky area my favourite
In Liberec all of them probably as the town is hilly everywhere
Most-Litvínov inter-town line accross the Chemopetrol refinery so far recommended !!
Plzeň line 1 Slovany - Bolevec probably, but am not sure, if it is the best one.

The tram in Bad Schandau is spectacular . I did not know it works there, though I ve been to Hřensko border crossing few times...

The longest line is supposed to be line 3 in Prague:
23,414 km following vlak-bus.cz
(those 40 km mentioned is with return ticket ).
Also lines 17, 22 and 26 are over 20 kilometres.

[RawLee]

Originally Posted by Herzarsen

I am also adding extension of Radlicka tram line map. The extension construction images are above.

What's the yellow plan on the map? Metro?

[HiRazor]

Very likely. There's a metro B station just underneath. The yellow lines may represent either axis lines of tunnels (2 single track bored tunnels - one in each direction - plus a central platform tunnel in the station are a typical layout on this part of the line) or max outer boudary of metro structures.