[Czech Republic] Tramways and Tram Lines

[Cirrus]

Hello. Inekon built some trams for use in Washington, DC, USA, but Washington has not completed construction of the tracks yet. As a result, the trams have been running in Plzen Ostrava until Washington is ready to take them.

Here are two pictures of the DC trams. Does anyone have more? I would love to see them.

image hosted on flickr

[Cirrus]

I think I got the city wrong. I think they are in Ostrava, not Plzen.

[HiRazor]

Yep. All 3 trams (completed 2007) are currently stored in Ostrava - Poruba tram depot. I don't know about any photos of them except perhaps those in this article about manufacture of trams for the US in Inekon. Some of the trams depicted are presumably for Washington.

The trams are basically the same as those in Seattle whose pictures are easily available as they are already in operation. For instance Inekon site features lots of them.

[X236K]

I dont think those are in service... I have not seen any...

[Cirrus]

They aren't in service hauling riders, but they are brought out from time to time to run on the streets and keep all the gears functional.

I've been able to find a few more pictures online, but just a few:

[historyworks]

Skoda Forcity makes this tram a bit out of date. Washington should have waited before ordering its trams!

[historyworks]

From Radio Prague news 17.1.2008:
New trams being removed from some routes in Prague
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The newest trams in use in Prague will be removed from some routes in
the coming weeks. The poor condition of some tram lines in the Czech
capital is being made worse by the heavy 14 T trams, say city
officials. However, the company which produces the trams, Skoda
Transportation in Plzen, rejects the suggestion that its vehicles are
harming tracks, saying that had not been proven.

-------
So what is the true story?

[historyworks]

Duplicate post deleted

[ABC LV]

When will Prague get their first 15t's?

[Bobek_Azbest]

Originally Posted by historyworks

So what is the true story?

General belief suggests that 14Ts have a more negative impact on the rails then other Prague's trams (makes sense - despite the lubricating system, the bogies turn just a bit, and the axle pressure is higher). However, all the routes which will be now closed for 14T type are built using the BKV technology (prefabricated concrete panels), and many of them didn't receive any major maintenance in last 20 years.
So both factors are to blame - the trams and the track technology, both not very suitable for Prague's network.

Originally Posted by ABC LV

When will Prague get their first 15t's?

No precise date is known yet. However, some rumours are around, but being rumours, they are usually saying "next month" and being postponed every month. Let's hope that 15T starts the tests in Prague in 1H09 (and some test drives in Pilsen are expected before that).

[Tramwayman]

well yes some tracks are bad in Prague but I don't believe that 14T infacts badly on tracks.

bogies turn normally besides the space between bogies is as same as the Tatras I think is it right?

so I don't see any type of problem here the 20 year tracks must be changed with new technologies and won't be problem.


oh I'm so waiting to see 15T in Prague they're so beautiful much more than 14T I think they are ugly. looks like a potato.


waiting for 15T.

well now about speed.
I don;t find attractive Prague trams speed in city they can speed up mpre but they don't have very stupid timeslots

only 60 km/h is bad. must be 80-90 km/h on some intersections between stations that are far and like this are very much.

for example in Zagreb trams run much more fast like 75-85 km/h maximum the new TMK 2200.

in 15T's technical pasport it's written 60 km/h maximum Ican't belaive that this moder vehicle can't accelerate more than this.
I think that this is ony speed limit and it can much.

do you know something about it?

Dos anyone have Skoda 15T technical drawing big one?

[Reichenberger]

14T's bogies are fix and they really cause damage of the rails.
Long live 15T!

[historyworks]

Originally Posted by Reichenberger

14T's bogies are fix and they really cause damage of the rails.
Long live 15T!

Really? I thought the high floor sections would allow use of pivoting (rotating) bogies underneath. However according to the Skoda website 14T has a speed limiter for curves; this is usually necessary with fixed bogies.

Anyone know how many degrees of rotation the end bogies on the 15T have? The other (Jacobs) bogies are a different situation I guess as they work on conjunction with the articulation.

A layout plan for 15T is here, I haven't found any better:
http://www.skoda.cz/transportation/n...y-aid2444.html
http://www.skoda.cz/images/1472.jpg

Originally Posted by Tramwayman

waiting for 15T.

You and half the world

[Bobek_Azbest]

Originally Posted by Tramwayman

in 15T's technical pasport it's written 60 km/h maximum Ican't belaive that this moder vehicle can't accelerate more than this.
I think that this is ony speed limit and it can much.

do you know something about it?

The top speed of 15T (as well as 14T) is limited electronically, so it's only a matter of a software change, the trams are powerful enough to reach higher speeds. I think that the 60kph limit is imposed by our legislation.

Originally Posted by historyworks

Really? I thought the high floor sections would allow use of pivoting (rotating) bogies underneath. However according to the Skoda website 14T has a speed limiter for curves; this is usually necessary with fixed bogies.

Nope, they are fixed, with a forced turning limited up to 4°.

[Tramwayman]

watign so much so much fro 15T so beautifull.

thanks for drawing I had this drawing but small one and wanted big one thak you.

Hope 15T can reach technicaly more speed than 60 km/h. I know that it's limited electronicaly to 60 but I'msure that it can reach like 90 km/h

hey and this tram has separate motors on each wheel??? 16x45 haaa? is this so?

[historyworks]

Originally Posted by Bobek_Azbest

Nope, they are fixed, with a forced turning limited up to 4°.

Well that's a surprise. So why the sections of high floor? - they could have had 100% low floor like the Combino with similar bogies. So no wonder they're a problem on Prague tracks. Sounds like someone in Skoda and DPP had a brain lapse. Similar problems with Combino in Melbourne which is an old system like Prague. They have to go very slowly on corners or they will derail. The tram enthusiasts here hate them!

[Tramwayman]

I thnk Cominos are really ugly and 14T too. 14T looks like a potato ajajajaja

[Reichenberger]

Originally Posted by historyworks

So why the sections of high floor?

The answer is very simple - because it's backward czech junkbox.

[Tramfreak]

Originally Posted by Reichenberger

The answer is very simple - because it's backward czech junkbox.

No, I don't think so. I am not so negative about it at all.

First of all, I think that the tram has quite attractive design. Of course this is a matter of taste, but 14T certainly brought some modern shape to Prague trams after a long era of T3, T6 and KT8. And it actually looks much better in real life than on photos.

There has been a lot of criticism of the amount of space inside the tram. But many people miss the point, that this tram is made for less important lines. It is used on lines like 9 (which is a mistake), because at this moment, it is the best type DP has. It will later be replaced by 15T and sent to serve minor lines, where it will have no problems with capacity.

And finally, for the destruction of tracks, I wouldn't blame this tram to such an extent. I don't understand what quality DP and the public expects when the tracks are reconstructed rarely and very poorly. Using BKV even nowadays is equal to flushing money down the toilet.

I think that the biggest problem of 14T is the price. It is not a revolutionary product, why then 60mil per tram? For the rest I believe that it will serve its real purpose well.

[Tramwayman]

Well say my opinion about 14T that about design I don't like it think it's ugly. but as a modern tram much better than tatras.



Here the Skoda version of 15T 31 m and 40 centimeters.






This is my version shorter 21 m and 80 centimeters it could be nice to see this kind too for some cities I think technicaly it's able to do in this type what you think??