Škoda Group started the assembling of the first of the ForCity Plus 52T tram for Prague, 13 months after the signing of the contract and eight months after the start of production. After the commissioning and dynamic tests on the test track, the tram is expected to hit the streets of Prague in April for test runs without passengers as part of the homologation process for the new vehicle type.
The tests also include the calibration of the anti-collision system and its unit tests. In the second phase, test runs with passengers will follow. After meeting the requirements of the Czech Railway Authority and successful completion of the test runs, the trams will be homologated for operation in the Czech Republic. In the meantime, the serial production of other trams will continue in Pilsen, and they will be delivered to Prague gradually according to the contract.
On January 27, 2025, it rode for the first time on the test track at the Škoda production site in Pilsen. The tram’s exterior has been completed, and the interior is being finished, while the commissioning and the first tests are underway.
Two more vehicles are in an advanced stage of assembly. Rough carbodies of individual sections are being welded on the others. In total, 8 ForCity Plus 52T trams for Prague are under construction in the Pilsen production workshops.
The new trams for Prague are 100% low-floor and offer higher passenger comfort than the types of vehicles operated so far. The interior is more spacious, with wider passages between the sections, and the full-vehicle air conditioning uses natural, ecological refrigerant. The trams are equipped with a modern information system that improves orientation during the journey. Technological solutions such as axle bogies, electromechanical brakes and energy recovery ensure lower maintenance costs and energy consumption. These features make the new trams not only environmentally friendly but also an economically viable solution for urban transport.
“Supplying trams for the capital of our country is not only a great honour for us, but also a great responsibility. This project brings stability and employment opportunities to thousands of people across the industry in the Czech Republic. We believe that the new tram will not only be a symbol of technological sophistication, but also of the ingenuity and commitment of all those involved in its development,” Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group, said.
In December 2023, Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) and Škoda Group signed a framework contract for the delivery of up to 200 ForCity Plus 52T trams. The total value of the contract, when fully utilised, is over CZK 16.6 billion (EUR 660.7 million). DPP has ordered 40 trams, which will be delivered to Prague in phases, with the first 20 this year, the other 20 vehicles by the end of 2026.
“The first new tram 52T is already here! The super-modern low-floor Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams will offer air conditioning, quiet operation and an advanced anti-collision system. By the end of the year, the first 20 of these top-of-the-range vehicles will arrive, and within a few years, the total number could reach 200,” said Zdeněk Hřib, Chairman of the Prague Public Transit Company Supervisory Board.
The final version was approved in May 2024, paving the way for the finalisation of the technical documentation and the start of production. More than 230 suppliers, 76% of whom are from the Czech Republic, are working on the development and production of new trams for Prague. This project thus supports domestic industry and creates employment opportunities throughout the country.
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