Train-trams: Future Commuting between Prague and Central Bohemia (Portal of Prague)

Train-trams: Future Commuting between Prague and Central Bohemia

Today's train-tram lines reach the railway line at Prague Řepy Station. Photo: Oskar Exner

Tramlines in Řepy are the same as the Prague railway line (Pražský motoráček) running from the local station. They are suitable for both vehicles.

23. September 2014
Oskar Exner

Ideal solution

"Train-trams are a common means of transport in German towns such as Karlsruhe, Kassel or Saarbrücken. They provide a faster connection between towns and their regions," claimed Jiří Pařízek a Councillor for Transport Services. "The dramatic rise of Prague's suburban area population puts a strain on road network and transport services. Train-tram is a great solution which improves mobility and affects the entire region. Usually, all it takes is to build a few metres of tramlines and link them to the existing railway line," he added.

Řepy - Hostivice - Chýně

Apart from being the fastest connection between the city centre and its outskirts, the train-tram combines the advantages of a train (greater speed) and a tram (easy access to the city centre). In reality, the tram leaving the city continues on the railway line to the nearby towns and villages. Possibly, the train-tram running from Řepy to Zličín station and to Chýně could be the first one operating.

Future train-tram service

The future of commuting would start at the tram stop in the city, the tram would take you along the usual tramline, stopping at all the tram stops, but as it reaches the outskirts of Prague it would change to the railway line to pick up a speed and take you beyond the main city area.

Necessary steps

The train-tram system does not need much. Nowadays the Prague trams have modified wheels in order to run on the railway lines. Apart from some minor technical adjustments, particularly at nearby the railroad switches, there need to be several short-line connectors between the tram and railway line, and the regional lines require 600 V electrification. An essential part of the train-tram system is the legislation update related to tram services operating on the railway lines.

Regional lines continue

"There were many regional lines operating in Germany using this system. People can get to the city centre faster than by train, bus or a car, moreover, the train-trams are very popular," added Pavel Procházka, a Head of ROPID. It seems that we may utilise such system too. The positioning of new train stops within the Prague Integrated Transport demonstrates a great potential.

"All it takes is to build few metres of tramlines", suggested the Councillor Jiří Pařízek. Photo: Oskar Exner

23. September 2014
23. September 2014

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First train-trams - place and time

The project idea, pilot study, its development, approval, finding the sponsors and finally running the service may take around 10 years. Now it is the time to find the suitable locations for train-tram vehicles. Often it is sufficient to only build few hundreds of metres of connecting area between the tram and railway line and this is more cost-effective than building the typical rail infrastructure. The following are the proposed places in Prague:

Prague, Sídliště Řepy – Hostivice – Chýně: would involve construction of a short connection at Sídliště Řepy linking to the railway line running through quickly extending to residential areas Hostivice - Chýně – Rudná.
Prague, Hlubočepy – Rudná – Nučice: would involve construction of a short connection linking the tram and railway line in Hlubočepy leading toward the large residential area of Rudná and Nučice.
Prague, Kbely – Brandýs nad Labem - Stará Boleslav: would involve building a new train-tram line diverting from the existing railway line Prague - Neratovice just passed the Praha-Kbely station. The line could provide urban transport for Brandýs n/L – Stará Boleslav.
Prague, Kobylisy – Odolena Voda – Neratovice – Mělník: potential train-tram services would link to the tramline Vozovna Kobylisy and the future airport Vodochody; it would connect to Kralupy nad Vltavou – Neratovice and continue as a railway line to Mělník.

Why do people in western Europe prefer train-trams to other vehicles?

No change needed: A passenger can get outside the city centre without having to change for another connection - comfortably and without a hassle you may travel far beyond the city area.
Greater speed: Due to its modernised system of acceleration and deceleration the train-tram runs fast even with many stops along its way. Additionally, the train-tram can go faster outside the residential area.
Accessibility: Train-tram has access to city and town centres, it can stop more often than a train and go near the densely populated areas.

Short intervals: Existing rolling-stock is utilised fully and due to carriages with lesser capacity it is possible to run the service more frequently.