Prague's transit system faces a rolling disagreement as city officials, transit planners, and operators clash over an order for six new T3R.PLF "Wana" trams. The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) is pushing to expand its fleet of modernized, part-low-floor streetcars, while the city’s transit organizer, ROPID, argues the vehicles are morally obsolete and unnecessary. The dispute centers on whether to continue modernizing legacy designs or pivot fully toward entirely new low-floor rolling stock equipped with full air conditioning.
Dispute Over Fleet Expansion at Prague City Hall
The disagreement over the six new tram units has triggered a scheduled intervention by Prague city leadership. Jaromír Beránek, Prague’s deputy mayor for transport, confirmed that city hall will host a joint meeting to arbitrate between the opposing municipal bodies. “DPP wants to actually acquire more vehicles, ROPID questions the need,” Beránek said, according to a report by Zdopravy.cz. “At a joint meeting, we will put the arguments against each other and try to find a solution acceptable to all three parties.”
Currently, DPP maintains 89 of the T3R.PLF tramcars in its network, with 72 in active operational condition. The remaining units sit temporarily sidelined, undergo repairs in workshops, or await their maiden deployment. The existing fleet stems from a modernization program that previously rebuilt 35 first-generation T3R.PLF units, followed by a 2022 framework agreement with Pragoimex to overhaul up to 65 additional streetcars in a facelifted configuration. That multi-year rollout targeted a final fleet size of 100 modified cars.
ROPID Pushes for Full Air Conditioning and New Procurement
ROPID objects to the latest six-car purchase, arguing that Prague’s transit network should look forward rather than backward. Filip Drápal, spokesperson for the transit organizer, stated that the agency prefers buying new trams or reconstructing older low-floor models to incorporate whole-car climate control. “We prefer to buy new trams or reconstruct older low-floor cars to supplement whole-car air conditioning,” Drápal told Zdopravy.cz.
The organizer also points to a looming deadline established by a city council resolution. Starting in 2031, Prague’s T3R.PLF streetcars are barred from running in pairs on standard routes, restricted instead to night services and student line 28. “From 2031 onwards, based on a valid city council resolution, T3R.PLF cars should no longer be operated in pairs, with the exception of special lines (student 28 + exclusion lines),” Drápal noted. “These cars will thus be used, apart from line 28, only on night lines with a sufficient operational reserve.”
Durable T3R.PLF Trams Reduce Vandalism Risks on Night Routes
The transit company defends its continued acquisition of the partial-low-floor trams by pointing to specific security demands on nocturnal routes. DPP originally initiated the modernization of the classic T3 chassis to satisfy ROPID’s mandate for partial accessibility during overnight hours. Company officials maintain that deploying brand-new, high-value low-floor vehicles on night services exposes modern assets to an elevated risk of vandalism. The T3R.PLF design bridges that gap by offering a middle low-floor boarding section while utilizing a proven, durable structural base suited for overnight operations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prague Tram Modernization
Why is Prague buying T3R.PLF trams instead of entirely new models?
DPP prioritizes the modernized T3R.PLF “Wana” units for overnight services to minimize the risk of vandalism on expensive new rolling stock while fulfilling accessibility requirements.
How many T3R.PLF trams does Prague currently operate?
DPP records show 89 T3R.PLF cars in its inventory, with 72 currently operational, four unassigned to service, and the remainder undergoing maintenance or temporary storage.
What does Prague plan to do with these trams after 2031?
A city council resolution dictates that T3R.PLF cars will no longer run in pairs after 2031, restricting their regular use to night routes and student line 28.
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