The first of 15 new ForCity Plus trams has begun operating in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. Škoda Transportation was awarded a €39 million contract in 2013 for the new five-car bi-directional trams and a further 15 unidirectional vehicles.
The first metre-gauge bi-directional tram went into trial operation on November 6. All 45 vehicles are expected to be delivered during 2015. An additional option for 15 more unidirectional trams is expected to be built and delivered by the middle of 2016. Bratislava’s ForCity trams are the first bi-directional units to be built by Škoda.
The European Union has financed over 80 per cent of the new fleet, with additional funding being provided by national and city authorities.
“We’ve successfully completed three large orders of new vehicles primarily funded by the EU. The capital city of Bratislava will therefore gain new unidirectional and bidirectional trams and new trolleybuses. I personally believe that the travelling public will appreciate the new comfort provided by carriages of European standard and the quality of public transport in our capital city will increase significantly,” adds Ľubomír Belfi, the Chairman and CEO of Bratislava Transportation Company.
http://www.skoda.cz
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