“The ForCity Plus 52T is not only a new vehicle for Prague, but also a demonstration of how our innovations can inspire urban transport in other European cities. Poland has traditionally been an important market for us – our trams run in Wrocław, and we also have metro trains in Warsaw. We are now returning here in earnest and are ready to provide cutting-edge solutions for other Polish cities as well. This advanced tram is ready to become part of public transport networks in Poland, fully adaptable to all types of infrastructure,” said Petr Novotný, CEO Škoda Group, adding: “As with the Warsaw Metro and other projects, we aim to cooperate with the local industry and supply chain to ensure that our projects bring added value not only to transport, but to society as a whole.”
“The Prague Public Transit Company is very pleased that joint efforts have made it possible to adhere to the schedule, which had no reserves from the very beginning. The winner of our tender was announced on November 9, 2023, the contract was signed on December 27, 2023, the first tram was presented at the production site on January 27, 2025, we started test runs on April 26, 2025, and we have now completed all the mandatory test kilometers on time. By the end of this year, we expect to have 20 of these vehicles in operation in Prague. It is not standard practice in Europe to adhere to the schedule,” said Jan Šurovský, Technical Director – Surface Transport, Prague Public Transit Company.
The new tram is composed of five sections, allowing it to easily navigate complex track conditions in historic cities – including narrow streets with sharp bends and steeper gradients. By combining pivoting and partly pivoting bogies, the vehicle offers outstanding flexibility while being kind to infrastructure. The unique bogie design ensures that the tram is 100% low-floor – a feature not common in this category – which significantly improves boarding and alighting for all passengers, including those with reduced mobility. The modern interior, also an in-house Škoda design, provides wider gangways between sections and a more spacious layout. Naturally, it is equipped with full air conditioning using environmentally friendly refrigerant R290, an advanced passenger information system, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
A major innovation is the advanced anti-collision system, which combines HD cameras with LiDAR technology to monitor the area in front of the tram. The system can detect obstacles with high accuracy, warn the driver in time, and, if necessary, automatically trigger emergency braking. This significantly enhances operational safety, making the 52T one of the safest vehicles in its class.
Škoda Group has a long-standing tradition of building trams for Prague, and the new model builds directly on this heritage. Prague will be the first city to put this type of vehicle into service, but the design has been developed to meet the expectations of municipalities and passengers in other European cities as well. The new tram demonstrates how Czech innovation can contribute to the development of urban transport across Europe and how Škoda Group continues to strengthen its position as a European leader in the development and production of modern trams.
