The Škoda Group, together with municipal transport operator MPK Wroclaw, has presented the new Prague ForCity Plus 52T tram in Wroclaw, as well as the new anti-collision system technology featured on the first Škoda 19T trams operating in the capital of Lower Silesia.
Presented in the form of an ‘unboxing’; the vehicle was unveiled to customers, media and the public, whilst a practical demonstration was held to highlight the anti-collision system directly on a Wroclaw 19T tram.
The event aimed to showcase two key areas for Škoda’s main development focus – comfortable, safe, energy-efficient vehicles for European cities; and digital technologies to improve operational safety.
Developed with a focus on passenger comfort, safety, reliability and modern design; the ForCity Plus 52T tram is the latest generation of Škoda vehicles designed for use in Prague.
The vehicle utilises a fully low-floor design with high operational flexibility, and has been specifically built to handle the demanding conditions of large cities – from historic centres with narrow streets and tight curves to lines with steeper gradients.
The Prague 52T tram, which recently received the Red Dot Award for product design, consists of five cars, measures in at 32 metres in length and offers capacity for up to 243 passengers, including 70 seated.
With five double-leaf doors, the tram is equipped with a combination of rotating and partially rotating bogies, ensuring high operational flexibility while being gentle on urban rail infrastructure.
The tram’s interior is designed to be spacious, clear and welcoming, and offers wider gangways between sections, modern LED lighting, whole-vehicle air conditioning, an advanced passenger information system and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Tomáš Ignačák, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Group, said:The city of Wrocław holds special significance for the Škoda Group, as it was the first city in Poland where our vehicles were introduced.
Today’s presentation showcases the breadth of solutions we can offer to Polish cities. On the one hand, we are presenting the modern 52T tram, which is the result of our long-term in-house development of vehicles designed for demanding urban operation.
On the other hand, we are showcasing an anti-collision system that takes tram safety to a new level. It is precisely the combination of a modern vehicle, innovative design and digital technologies that will shape the future of public transport in European cities.
As well as the unveiling of the new tram; Škoda also showcased its brand-new anti-collision system, which was shown on a Škoda 19T tram.
As part of the the modernisation of the 19T tram, which has been carried out by SAATZ, vehicles are being equipped with the new Škoda anti-collision system, which utilises a combination of LiDAR laser scanning, cameras and digital track maps, creating a virtual tunnel in front of the tram in which obstacles – such as cars, cyclists or pedestrians – can be detected in real time.
The laser scanner monitors the surroundings up to a distance of 100 metres, the camera provides a detailed image, and additional sensors monitor the vehicle’s position on the track, meaning that if the system identifies a risky situation, it alerts the driver in good time.
In some more extreme cases, the system can activate emergency braking, preventing accidents and, for transport operators, resulting in not only greater safety for passengers and other road users, but also the potential to reduce costs associated with collisions, vehicle repairs and service disruptions.
Thus far, this system has been deployed on trams in Tampere, Finland, in Olomouc, and now on the latest 52T trams in Prague – with installation now underway on Škoda 19T trams.
