- Hans Weber
- November 1, 2024
Prague’s Groundbreaking Eco-Friendly Transit: Longest Trolleybuses in Czech Republic Set to Revolutionize Airport Route
Commencing in March, the journey from Veleslavín Station to Václava Havla Airport in Prague is poised to undergo a transformation towards enhanced comfort and environmental sustainability. In a pioneering move, diesel buses on line no. 119 will be replaced by high-capacity battery trolleybuses, and these are not just any trolleybuses – they are the longest in the Czech Republic, measuring an impressive 24.7 meters.
Dubbed the “Škoda–Solaris 24m,” these trolleybuses will mark a milestone as the longest-utilized public transport vehicles in the country. The city of Prague is at the forefront of this initiative, having acquired twenty of these cutting-edge trolleybuses at a cost of approximately 620 million crowns. With a capacity to carry 179 passengers, these trolleybuses are strategically introduced to address the high demand during peak hours, eliminating the need for deploying two articulated buses in succession on line 119.
The introduction of these groundbreaking trolleybuses necessitated the development of new infrastructure. Construction of trolleybus lines commenced at the beginning of the year, with completion expected by the end of February. The progress is evident, with the track now physically visible from Veleslavín station to Divoká Šárka. In the last week, construction activities focused on extending the trolleybus line towards the Prague ring road and the area around the Šestka department store, leading to terminal 3.
Come March 2024, bus line no. 119 will be phased out, making way for the inauguration of trolleybuses on the new line no. 59. Looking ahead, the city envisions repurposing the long three-segment trolleybuses for use elsewhere in Prague, potentially on line 136, particularly once the railway connection to the airport is established. This strategic move not only elevates the quality of public transportation in Prague but also underscores the city’s commitment to eco-friendly initiatives and cutting-edge transit solutions.
Article by Prague Forum
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