There will be no new cars yet. Prague is reconstructing the old metro sets
“Due to the technical level of the solution applied during the reconstruction and due to the current technical condition of these trains, it was decided to extend the operation of this type of train for another approximately 15 years,” said company spokeswoman Aneta Řehková. The 81-71M sets were modernized by Škoda Transportation in Pilsen, which currently also takes care of their complete service.
There are currently 41 of these trains on route A, there are 52 cars on the “béčka”. A few days ago, a trial repair of one of the oldest trains of this type was started. “The aim is to verify the technical condition of the train in detail and to verify whether it will be necessary to carry out all the expected work on other trains as well,” said Řehková. “The scope of this maintenance primarily included the inspection and replacement of obsolete and worn components, such as drives, inverters,” added Škoda Transportation spokeswoman Lubomíra Černá.
Neither the transport company nor the Prague councilor for transport Adam Scheinherr (Prague himself) wanted to specify how much the repair would cost. “It simply came to our notice then. It is possible that the performed test reconstruction will not bring the expected effect and will have to proceed to more complex modifications of cars. Alternatively, the cars will be in such great condition that the reconstructions will not be time or money consuming. At the moment, it would be pure speculation, “said Scheinherr. The original Soviet trains 81-71 ran in the Prague metro since 1976, their modernization to the new type took place in the years 1999 to 2011.
“We are already starting to consider the future replacement of these trains with completely new sets,” said Scheinherr. So far, however, it is the music of the future, the transport company is now preparing for the new metro line D. “We are currently preparing specifications for new trains for line D,” said Řehková, adding that the public contract for trains for this route should be announced around in 2021.
In addition, long-term contracts with Škoda Transportation for the maintenance of metro trains on lines A and B will end next year. Therefore, the transport company will start negotiating new contracts worth billions of crowns this year. For example, a 15-year contract for car service on line C concluded with last year cost Siemens CZK 7.5 billion.