Prague is embracing modern public transport: the new Škoda ForCity Plus 52T tram combines comfort, safety, and sustainability. Following its presentation in Pilsen, it is now ready for the test phase in the Czech capital.
Thirteen months after the contract was signed between the Public Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague (DPP) and the Škoda Group, and eight months after the start of production, the first Škoda ForCity Plus 52T tram for Prague was manufactured and ran for the first time on the test track at the Škoda production site in Pilsen on Monday. A total of eight trams for Prague are currently under construction in the Pilsen production halls. The first tram is expected to hit the streets of Prague in April, where it will begin test runs without passengers as part of the testing and approval process for the new vehicle type.
In December 2023, a framework agreement was signed between the DPP and the Škoda Group for the delivery of up to 200 Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams. The total value of the order, if fully utilized, amounts to over 16.6 billion crowns. The DPP has placed a binding order for 40 trams, which will be delivered to Prague in stages—the first 20 this year and an additional 20 vehicles by the end of 2026.
Over 230 suppliers are involved in the development and production of the new trams for Prague, 76% of which are from the Czech Republic. This project supports the domestic industry and creates jobs throughout the country.
“The first new 52T tram is here! This is a significant milestone, as after almost 20 years, Prague is getting a completely new type of tram. The ultra-modern Škoda ForCity Plus 52T low-floor trams offer air conditioning, low-noise operation, and an advanced anti-collision system. The first 20 of these top-of-the-range vehicles will be delivered by the end of the year, and within a few years, their total number could rise to as many as 200,” says Zdeněk Hřib, Deputy Mayor for Transport and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DPP.
“Delivering trams for the capital of our country is not only a great honor for us but also a great responsibility. This project will bring stability and jobs to thousands of people in Czech industry. We believe that the new tram will be a symbol not only of technological progress but also of the ingenuity and commitment of all those involved in its development,” says Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group.
In the coming weeks, the first three trams for Prague will be completed in Pilsen. After commissioning and dynamic tests on the test track, they will be transported to Prague, where they will begin the first phase of test runs without passengers as part of the homologation process for the new vehicle type. This phase also includes the calibration of the anti-collision system and its individual tests. Test drives with passengers will follow in the second phase. Once the test runs are successfully completed, the trams will be homologated for operation in the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, series production of additional vehicles will continue in Pilsen, with deliveries to Prague proceeding in stages according to the contract.
The new trams for Prague are 100% low-floor and offer greater passenger comfort compared to previous vehicle types. The interior is more spacious, with wider passageways between the segments, and the entire vehicle’s air conditioning system uses natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant. The trams are equipped with a modern information system that improves onboard navigation. Technological solutions such as bogies with axles, electromechanical brakes, and energy recovery ensure lower maintenance costs and reduced energy consumption. Thanks to these features, the new trams will not only be an environmentally friendly solution but also an economically advantageous one for urban transport.
