The Petřín Funicular is set for modernisation. After four decades of service, the old carriages will be replaced. With the start of major renovation works, a new era begins for one of the city’s most popular landmarks.
The Petřín Funicular is bidding farewell to its old carriages, which are now entering their “well-deserved retirement” after forty years in operation. The removal of the old carriages marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Prague’s cherished attraction. Extensive renovation work will soon commence, during which the two existing funicular carriages will be replaced with brand-new ones. On Tuesday, 18 March, the old carriages were transported away.
One carriage (Number 1) has been taken to the DPP (Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy) central workshops in Hostivař, where it will be preserved for the Public Transport Museum, while the other (Number 2) has been transferred to the railway depot of the National Technical Museum in Chomutov.
The construction work is expected to take approximately one year, followed by the installation of the transport system, testing, and approval of the new funicular carriages, which will take an additional five to six months. DPP anticipates that the fully modernised Petřín Funicular, including its new carriages, will begin trial operations with passengers in the third quarter of 2026.
The new funicular carriages for Prague’s Petřín Hill, designed by Anna Marešová, were awarded the prestigious German Design Award 2025 by the end of 2024. The innovative design combines modern technology with sustainable approaches and a playful interaction between the carriages.
DOPPELMAYR lanové dráhy, spol. s r. o., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group based in Austria and Switzerland, has been awarded the contract to manufacture and supply the two innovative carriages for the Petřín Funicular. The production will take place in Switzerland and is expected to last around eleven months. The new Petřín Funicular will not only stand as a symbol of technological innovation but will also enhance Prague’s cityscape.
