New Škoda 52T trams enter service
It took four months longer than planned, but the first three 52T trams are now in regular service. For the time being they run on two lines, where the transit authority wants to see how they cope with a dense interval and with the climb on the ring.
What is different
The most visible change is the continuous low floor along the whole vehicle. The previous series only had it in the middle section, which meant looking for the right door when boarding with a pram or a wheelchair. The second change is audible: the new drive is considerably quieter when pulling away — something pedestrians complained about during the first shift, because they did not hear the tram coming.
From the driver’s seat
„The cab is airier and there is finally somewhere to put your things,“ sums up a driver after his first week. His reservations concern the placement of the air-conditioning controls and the reversing camera, which has no heating and fogs up in the morning.
What comes next
Nine more vehicles are due by the end of the year. The results of the trial operation will decide whether the option for a second batch is taken up in full or only in part.