The ForCity Plus 52T tram is the latest generation of Škoda Group vehicles designed for Prague. It was developed with a strong focus on passenger comfort, safety, reliability and modern design. Thanks to its technical concept, it combines a fully low-floor design with high operational flexibility and is ready for the demanding conditions of large cities – from historic centres with narrow streets and tight curves to lines with steeper gradients. The tram’s design was also recognised by the international jury of the Red Dot Award, where the Prague 52T tram received the prestigious award for product design. The presentation in Wroclaw therefore gave Polish partners, the media and the public an opportunity to see a vehicle that represents one of Škoda Group’s most visible innovations in urban rail transport.
“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,” said Tomáš Ignačák, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Group.
The new 52T tram is a five-section vehicle, approximately 32 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. It offers capacity for up to 243 passengers, including 70 seated places, and a maximum speed of 70 km/h. Five double-leaf doors enable fast passenger boarding and alighting. A combination of rotating and partially rotating bogies ensures high operational flexibility while being gentle on urban rail infrastructure. The fully low-floor design significantly facilitates boarding and alighting for all passengers, including people with reduced mobility, senior citizens, parents with prams and passengers with larger luggage.
The tram’s interior is designed as a spacious, clear and welcoming environment for everyday urban travel. It offers passengers wider gangways between sections, modern LED lighting, whole-vehicle air conditioning using an environmentally friendly refrigerant, an advanced passenger information system with six screens distributed along the entire length of the vehicle, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The 52T tram thus combines a modern technical solution with a level of comfort that meets the expectations of passengers in European metropolitan areas.
Škoda Anti-Collision System Enhances Tram Safety in Wroclaw and Other Cities
An important part of the programme was also the presentation of the anti-collision system on a Škoda 19T tram. The company SAATZ carried out the modernization of the 19T tram for MPK Wrocław. Part of this modernization included the installation of the Škoda Group’s state-of-the-art anti-collision system. The system uses a combination of LiDAR laser scanning, cameras and digital track maps. This creates 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. If the system identifies a risky situation, it alerts the driver in good time. In extreme cases, it can activate emergency braking and thus help prevent an accident. For transport operators, this means 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.
“Safety is one of our main priorities. The introduction of anti-collision systems into tram operation is a practical example of how modern technologies can help drivers, passengers and the entire city. Cooperation with Škoda Group enables us to use a solution that already has operational experience behind it and meets the needs of modern urban transport,” said Witold Woźny, CEO of MPK Wrocław.
The Škoda anti-collision system has been deployed, for example, on trams in Tampere, Finland, in Olomouc, and also on the latest 52T trams in Prague. In Wroclaw, installation is under way on Škoda 19T trams, which form part of the city’s fleet. The technology also fits into Škoda Group’s broader strategy in the digitalisation of rail transport. Modern trams are gradually becoming mobile data hubs capable of monitoring their technical condition, location, energy consumption and operational load, and of using this data for safer and more efficient operation.
Poland Is a Key Market for Škoda Group
The presentation in Wroclaw builds on Škoda Group’s long-term presence on the Polish market and its regular participation in the TRAKO trade fair in Gdańsk, where the ForCity Plus 52T tram was first presented to the public. Wroclaw has now become another venue where Polish customers, media and the public were able to become more closely acquainted with this vehicle and, at the same time, see another Škoda Group technology in practice – the anti-collision system for 19T trams. Another important reference for the Group in Poland is its metro trains for Warsaw, which confirm Škoda Group’s ability to deliver solutions for the most demanding urban rail systems. Poland is therefore a market where Škoda Group brings together experience in supplying modern rail vehicles, long-term cooperation with transport operators, and the development of digital technologies that increase safety, reliability and operational efficiency.
