The Prague tramway network is the largest tram network in the Czech Republic, consisting of 144 km (89 mi) of track, 882 tram vehicles (one of the largest fleets in the world) and 26 daytime routes, 2 historical and 10 night routes with a total route length of 518 km (322 mi). It is operated by Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy a.s., a company owned by the city of Prague. The network is a part of Prague Integrated Transport, the city’s integrated public transport system.

The value of the full contract for a total of 200 cars 16.602 milliard  Czech Karuna translates to CAD $954.2 million for 200 trams and this would also include parts, etc.

What is interesting is the amount of new technology that is included with the tram, the most important being the anti collision tech.

Due to increasing demands on safety, each new tram will be equipped with a Škoda anti-collision system to reduce the likelihood of collisions in traffic. To do this, it uses a combination of dual LiDAR and HD-camera technology and precise localisation using off-line recorded HD maps and odometry. This set-up allows the system to create a virtual driving tunnel in which the tram can detect obstacles within 10 cm, provide early warnings, minimise false positive warnings, and activate the emergency brake in time. The anti-collision system will thus help prevent major accidents and damage to health and vehicles.

 As the new trams are modular, new sections can be added in the future to meet growing demand without the expense of buying a complete new tram.

Technical parameters of the tram Škoda ForCity Plus Praha 52T:

• Vehicle length over bumpers: 31.99 m
• Vehicle width: 2.5 m
• Total vehicle capacity: 243 at 5 persons/m2 (Zwei comments – a more realistic vehicle crush capacity would be around 200 persons)
• Number of standing places: 173 (Zwei comments – a more realistic number would be 130 persons standing)
• Number of seats: 70 in total, of which 44 in the direction of travel = 62% (PID Quality Standards require a minimum of 60%) and 26 in the opposite direction = 38%
• Low-floor section: 100% (all seats accessible without landings and stairs)
• Total number of chassis: 4 traction bogies (2 pivoting and 2 partly pivoting)
• Brake: electromechanical
• Diameter of new wheels: 640 mm
• Boarding height: 350 mm
• Doors: 5 double doors, each 1300 mm wide
• Driver’s door: external mechanical, internal sliding
• Vehicle life cycle: 30 years
• Design speed: 80 km/h
• Empty weight: 48 t

(Info: Škoda Group/DPP)