Brno Tatra T3 trams on route 9 at Lesná terminus
Czech Trams and Trolleybuses
There is a great deal of information available to the enthusiast on the fascinating tram and trolleybus systems of the Czech Republic. Naturally, most of it is written in the Czech language. My intention here is to make some information available in English, partly as a way of organising my own notes, but also to assist other English-speaking visitors with similar interests.
It will inevitably start from small beginnings, but will hopefully grow over the years into a useful resource. It will naturally reflect my own interests, which majors on the routes and timetables and other operational aspects, as well as how the routes and the cities themselves developed. I also intend to give an overview of the trams and trolleybuses themselves, with links to sites that give much more detailed fleet information. Bear in mind that any comments I may give will be from my own personal viewpoint as a UK citizen not too many years away from retirement.
The Czech Republic
I have considered the Czech Republic to be amongst my favourite countries for some years now. The rapid changes which have taken place since the Communist era have added to the interest. With over 10 million people spread over a large area, it is indeed a country of variety and contrasts. From the railway point of view there is a dense network serving thousands of small towns and villages, with rural branch lines that many other countries would have axed years ago. At the same time, the main lines offer fairly fast and frequent express services, making it easy to get around.
The larger cities offer a mixture of commerce, industry and tourism, with high-density residential areas ideal for public transport often located some distance from the central area. Town centres often have pleasant traffic-free squares with fountains and statues, and shopping streets are often pedestrianised. Impressive churches and other historical buildings can be found dotted about, and if you know where to look there are superb little towns with beautifully kept buildings and attractive lanes to wander down. On the other hand, the legacy of less prosperous times is easy to find, with many areas being ripe for development. Unfortunately, grafiti plays a large part in making certain areas look run down, though in general even the high-rise residential buildings are well maintained and often colourfully painted.
The amicable split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the beginning of 1993 means that the Czech Republic cannot boast any mountains, the famous Tatra mountains being in Slovakia. However, the countryside can offer attractive rolling hills (such as Sumava), many pretty river valleys, and some imposing castles and houses. There are even steam-hauled tourist trains if you plan the dates right. Maybe I should also mention that the Czech Republic seems to have more than its fair share of beautiful women!
The Tram and Trolleybus Systems
There are currently seven tram systems and thirteen trolleybus systems in the Czech Republic. Three cities run both trams and trolleybuses (Brno, Ostrava and Plzeň) so there are 17 cities in all with one or both types of transport. Praha also has a three-line metro. The tram and trolleybus networks are listed below in approximate order of size, with largest first:
- Tram systems - Praha, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Olomouc, Liberec, Most-Litvinov.
- Trolleybus systems - Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Pardubice, Hradec Králové, České Budějovice, Teplice, Jihlava, Ústí nad Labem, Zlín-Otrokovice, Opava, Chomutov, and Mariánské Lázně.
Ostrava's prototype SOR alongside one of its 15 metre Solaris trolleybuses
The tram networks provide a great deal of variety, with traditional street running, reserved track, and modern light-rail all playing a part. There are also some tram lines reaching into the countryside, such as at Ostrava and Liberec. Several trolleybus routes also have a rural nature, extending beyond the city boundaries. Whilst tram and trolleybus types have been traditionally standardised in the past (thanks in part to Communist centralised purchasing), financial contraints have led to many older types still being in service, with money being spent on a variety of reconstruction and modernisation projects rather than replacement. This has led to a large number of types and sub types, particularly of the ubiquitous Tatra T3 tram. At the same time, the numbers of newly built low-floor vehicles are gradually increasing.
The systems are easy to use, with day tickets covering all public transport being available in most cities. Automatic display and/or announcement of stop names on board almost all trams, trolleybuses and urban buses means that it is easy to follow your progress on maps and to alight at the correct stop.
Historical trams add to the interest in Prague and Brno, which have old vehicles in service on certain days. Prague also has an urban transport museum at the former Střešovice tram depot, whilst Brno's Technical Museum has a large collection of trams from throughout the country. These are in store at Líšeň on the outskirts of Brno, and can be seen by appointment with at least 10 days notice. Depot open days and other occasional special events are also something to look out for; these are often related to special anniversaries.