The tram parade commemorated 130 years since the beginning of the operation of electric trams
Updates: 18.07.2021 11:35
Released: 18.07.2021, 11:29
Prague – A parade of trams passed through the streets of Prague today. 13 museum and contemporary cars set out on the journey through the metropolis, which commemorated 130 years since the beginning of the operation of the first electric tram line in the Czech lands. About 400 traffic enthusiasts could ride them. Fans also lined the route from the Castle through the center to Letná. The event was organized by a Prague transport company.
“We chose according to that all the main types that rode in Prague were represented – whether during the monarchy, during the First Republic and after the war and at present. The first two sets are completely unique. Car 18 is from Pilsen, set 109 and 526 it is a museum, so it runs once every ten years, “Petr Malík, head of the historical vehicle unit of the transport company, told ČTK and Czech Radio.
The people of Prague took the electric tram for the first time on Saturday, July 18, 1891. The line led from the Letna chateau to the northern entrance to Stromovka. It was designed by inventor František Křižík. The route originally measured 766 meters, later extended to 1.4 kilometers.
Start today’s journey was in the loop Královka in Bělohorská street. Trams started there at 7:15. Before the start, which was an hour later, dozens of enthusiasts inspected the cars. They were waiting for the tram column in places along the entire route around the Castle to Klárov, from the Malostranská station to the Old Town and along the waterfront to Palackého náměstí. The cars then headed for Charles Square and further to Wenceslas Square, Masaryk Railway Station, Dlouhá třída and Letná.
. At the head is the oldest European operational electric tram from 1899, followed by cars from 1901 and 1908. There were also trams from the 50s and 60s, let the current ones. The ticket cost 50 crowns. In the fanshop of the Prague transport company, those interested could choose which car they needed to drive. The remaining tickets, which were not sold online, cannot be obtained from the guides this morning. But there were only places in new sets. But these passengers also had an extraordinary experience. Trams passed by the main monuments and important buildings. Hradčany, Rudolfinum, Charles Bridge, Dancing House or Art Nouveau Municipal House passed by. Traffic in the metropolis was not restricted due to the parade.
The ride ended at Letenské náměstí at 9:20. “At that time, the first tram of František Křižík started running and the driver Fiala headed for the royal park,” said Malík.
The ceremonial ride at the Letna chateau was followed by the opening of an educational trail about the former first electric railway and the first Prague cable car, which led from the Vltava to Letná. Near the technical museum, those interested will find a piece of tracks under the linden trees in the grass and a small memorial plaque commemorating the start of operation 130 years ago. “It is a pity that mostly Praguers do not even know where the history of this important historical event began to be written. It was the first electric tramway in the Czech lands, “said historian Pavel Fojtík. According to him, a dispatch sheet with a record of the first ride is stored in the archive.
Operation on this first electrified route from Letná to Stromovka ended on August 15, 1900. In ten seasons, over 593,000 passengers were transported here. The first trams started running in Prague in 1875, when they were pulled by a horse-drawn carriage.