The Red Dot Award for the 52T tram is another significant international recognition of the work of Škoda Group’s in-house design and development team. The vehicle was designed specifically for Prague and its demanding tram network – from the historic city centre with narrow streets and tight curves, through lines with steeper gradients, to busy urban routes with high requirements for capacity, passenger comfort and smooth operation.
“Receiving the Red Dot Award is an exceptionally strong confirmation for us that the design of the 52T tram can stand out in the most demanding international competition. From the very beginning, our ambition with this vehicle was to combine a modern technical solution, a high level of passenger comfort, safety and a visual identity reflecting Prague’s importance as one of Europe’s largest tram cities. This award therefore belongs to the entire team involved in the tram’s development,” said Tomáš Chludil, Head of Industrial Design at Škoda Group.
Škoda Group has now succeeded in the Red Dot Award competition for the second time. In 2024, the Škoda ForCity Smart tram for Bonn, Germany, received the same award in the Product Design category. At that time, the international jury highlighted the vehicle’s passenger comfort for people with different needs, as well as its ability to blend well into the urban environment. The award for Prague’s 52T tram thus confirms Škoda Group’s long-term ability to create modern rail vehicles that combine technical quality with well-considered design.
The Red Dot Award ranks among the most important international distinctions in product and industrial design. The competition, whose history dates back to 1955, annually evaluates top-quality products from around the world and grants them an internationally recognised mark of design quality. In the Product Design discipline, submitted products are assessed by an independent international jury of design experts, who evaluate criteria including innovation, functionality, quality of execution, durability and overall design quality. The award ceremony takes place in Essen, Germany, and the winning products are also presented at the Red Dot Design Museum Essen.
The new Škoda ForCity Plus 52T tram is a unidirectional, five-section, fully low-floor vehicle measuring approximately 32 metres in length and 2.5 metres in width. It offers capacity for up to 243 passengers, including 70 seated places. Fast boarding and alighting are enabled by five double-leaf doors. The combination of modern drive control and fully suspended swivel bogies at the front and rear ensures a smooth ride during acceleration and braking, as well as a long service life and minimal impact on the track infrastructure.
The tram’s interior is designed to be spacious, well-organized, and user-friendly for everyday urban travel. It offers passengers wider passageways between car sections, modern LED lighting, full-car air conditioning using an eco-friendly refrigerant, an advanced information system with six large screens located throughout the car, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The low-floor design, with no steps required to reach any of the seats, makes travel easier for people with reduced mobility, seniors, parents with strollers and small children, and passengers with larger luggage.
The 52T trams are also equipped with Škoda’s modern anti-collision system, which uses a combination of sensors, cameras and digital HD maps to detect obstacles in front of the vehicle in good time. The technology helps improve operational safety in demanding urban environments and forms part of Škoda Group’s broader strategy in the digitalisation of rail transport.
Prague Public Transit Company has signed a contract with Škoda Group for the delivery of 40 ForCity Plus 52T trams, with an option for up to 160 additional vehicles. If the option is exercised in full, Prague may receive up to 200 new modern trams. The project therefore ranks among the most significant investments in the renewal of Prague’s tram fleet in modern history.
