Škoda ForCity Plus 52T: New trams for Prague
Trams for Prague unveiled: Škoda ForCity Plus Praha 52T to serve the capital
The total value of the contract is about CZK
16.602 billion, making it one of the largest
investments in new trams in the company-
's modern history. The first 20 new trams
should arrive in Prague in December 2025,
with another 20 arriving a year later, i.e. by
the end of December 2026.
The Škoda ForCity Plus Praha 52T is
a single-ended, articulated, five-section,
100% low-floor tram without a single step
in the passenger compartment, including
the space above the bogies, coming in a
modern design authored by the Škoda
Group designer team led by Tomáš Chlu-
dil. It is 32 metres long and equipped with
full air conditioning with eco-friendly refri-
gerant, an anti-collision system, an auto-
matic passenger counting system, energy-
saving LED interior and external lighting,
and 70 upholstered seats - 44 forward-fa-
cing and 26 rear-facing. Compared to the
previous 15T series trams, the capacity of
the new cars will increase by 33 passen-
gers, i.e. nearly 16%. Passengers will app-
reciate the new information system provi-
ded by large screens across the entire
aisle and more intuitive controls for ope-
ning the doors and for signals to the dri-
ver. That is a short summing-up of the
tram that will start roaming the streets of
Prague in 2025.
Prague, especially its historic centre, is
typified by narrow streets with tight cur-
ves, steep gradients, and significant diffe-
rences in elevation across the tram net-
work but also long and relatively flat lines.
All these facts were taken into considera-
tion in the development of the new tram for
Prague while also taking into account the
technical requirements of DPP resulting
from their previous operational experien-
ce. The design of the new tram combines
an articulated multi-section vehicle with
two freely-swivelling bogies under the ou-
termost sections and two partially-swivel-
ling bogies under the inside carriage sec-
tions. This combination has made it
possible to create a much more spacious
and airier passenger compartment with
shorter, wider, and spacious joints, com-
pletely step- and barrier-free. At the same
time, it can accommodate to any track
profile, promising a smooth, comfortable,
and quiet ride and reduced wheel and
track wear. This solution will result in a
longer service life of the vehicles as, for
example, the wheel mileage is expected
to be up to 50% higher than on the 15T,
ultimately delivering lower maintenance
costs for the bogies and the most expen-
sive components.
"After many years, our undercarriage de-
sign has revived the electromechanical
brake, which brings about lower mainte-
nance costs and is much more environ-
mentally friendly than hydraulic brakes.
The deployment of the electromechanical
brake has been enabled by our significant
rail transport
ll
components
36
Trams for Prague Unveiled:
Škoda ForCity Plus Praha 52T
to Serve the Capital
The Czech capital can look forward to as many as 200 modern, 100% low-floor Škoda
ForCity Plus Praha 52T trams. Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy (DPP), the capital city's public
transport provider, has signed an eight-year contract for the purchase of 40 trams and
an option for up to 160 further vehicles with the successful bidder in the public
tender - Škoda Group (specifically, Škoda Transportation).
TT ++ TT
Technika a trh 5/2024
36-38_Skoda_for_city_EN.qxd 30.9.2024 18:30 Page 36