From Line 23 to Line 24: Prague's Integrated Transportation System
Line 23 holds a special place as the "Nostalgic Line," weaving through the city's historic sites aboard charming T3 trams. Meanwhile, Line 24, boasting 34 stations from Vozovna Kobylisy to Náměstí Brat?í Synk?, and operates from 4:30 a.m. to midnight at intervals of 10-20 minutes.
Before bidding farewell to Line 23 and embracing Line 24, let's acknowledge the unique charm embedded in Prague's transportation network.
Nestled in the heart of Europe, Prague, the capital city of Czechia, boasts a sophisticated public transportation system encompassing buses, trams, and metro lines. The meticulous orchestration of this system falls under the purview of the Prague Public Transit Company, known in Czech as Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy or DPP.
Overview of Prague's Integrated Transportation System
Prague's Integrated Transportation system (PID) seamlessly connects the city through its well-organized metro, tram, and bus networks.
Metro System
The metro system is one of the most efficient modes of travel within the city. Comprising three lines – A (green), B (yellow), and C (red) – it interlaces with various bus and tram lines. The metro operates from 5:00 am to midnight, ensuring swift travel. During peak hours, trains run every 2-3 minutes, and during off-peak hours, intervals extend to 4-10 minutes. The ease of transferring between lines is facilitated by clearly marked transfer points in underground stations.
Tram System
Prague boasts the largest tram-line system in Czechia with nearly 1,000 trams. With 24 lines crisscrossing the city, trams run every 5-10 minutes during peak hours and every 10-20 minutes during off-peak hours. The extensive network spans approximately 150 kilometers of double tracks, maintaining a track gauge of 1435 mm. Offering a total of 35 regular tram lines (26 during the day and 9 at night), along with one special line, the tram system is a vital component of Prague's public transit.
Bus System
The bus system complements the metro and tram lines with over 150 routes seamlessly woven into the city's fabric. Buses arrive every 5-10 minutes during peak hours and every 10-20 minutes during off-peak hours. Notably, all buses are equipped with air conditioning and are designed to be wheelchair accessible.
Pre-Boarding Etiquette
Before boarding, passengers are advised to position themselves at the part of the stop where the entry door is expected to be located upon the vehicle's arrival. Signaling the driver for boarding is a straightforward process – a simple raising of the arm communicates the intention to board.
Tickets and Passes for Prague's Integrated Transport System
Prague's integrated transportation system ensures a unified approach to ticketing, making travel across metro, trams, buses, and funiculars seamless and convenient. Here's a comprehensive guide to acquiring tickets and passes:
Purchase Options
Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines strategically located in metro stations and select bus stops. Online purchases through the official DPP website offer a hassle-free option for securing your ticket.
Embracing digital advancements, Prague also offers the flexibility to buy tickets using your smartphone. Three major applications cater to this:
These apps are free and not only enable ticket purchases but also provide features such as viewing purchase history and receiving notifications about service disruptions and other pertinent information.
Ticket Pricing and Zones
The price of a ticket depends on the number of hours it is valid and the number of zones you can travel using the ticket. There are 13 zones in the PID system, which covers the Prague public transport zones and the Central Bohemian region.
Avoiding Fines in PID System
Navigating Prague's public transportation system requires a keen understanding of ticket regulations and a proactive approach to avoid fines. Here's a comprehensive guide to sidestepping potential penalties:
Inspector Presence
Ticket inspectors are a regular and diverse presence in Prague's transportation system, varying from individuals of different ages and appearances.
Inspectors may be in uniform or plain clothes, identifying themselves using a numbered ring, often discreetly tucked within their palm. Photographic identification with the same number is a standard requirement.
Preventing Fines
To avert fines, it is imperative to purchase a valid ticket or pass before boarding any mode of public transport. Two ticket types exist: those requiring validation and those pre-validated upon purchase. Tickets from yellow machines, tabaks, and hotels need validation by stamping in the little yellow box when first used. Conversely, pre-validated tickets include discounted travel passes from DPP offices, tickets from orange boxes on trams and metro stations, and electronically purchased tickets.
Inspector Interaction
Ticket inspectors may conduct checks within the confines of public transport property, and passengers must promptly display valid permission to travel. The inspection process is brief, but if without a valid ticket or pass, passengers may be asked to disembark for resolution. Failure to comply results in a CZK 1500 (61 EUR) fine. In cases where payment is impossible, individuals may face subsequent legal action.
Maintaining Composure
Interactions with ticket inspectors demand calm and respectful conduct to avoid additional fines or penalties. Any unruly behavior, such as shouting or insults, may incur extra fines, potentially reaching CZK 1000 or more.
Barrier-Free Access in PID System
Prague is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment within its public transportation system, striving to provide seamless accessibility for all passengers, including those with disabilities. Here's a comprehensive overview of the efforts made towards barrier-free access:
Universal Accessibility in Trams and Metro
The majority of trams and metro trains in Prague are designed to be barrier-free, enhancing accessibility for passengers with diverse mobility needs.Modern trams, in particular, offer step-free access directly from the street, while the metro ensures step-free entry to trains directly from the platforms.
Direct Street-Level Access
Several metro stations provide direct access to platforms from street level through the use of lifts. Examples include Muzeum and M?stek stations.
Passenger Elevators and Cascading Access
Passengers with reduced mobility and those with prams can conveniently use passenger elevators for direct or cascading entry and exit at stations. Notable features include a vertical platform hoist at Nádra?í Hole?ovice and platform stair lifts at three stations: Nové Butovice, Smíchovské nádra?í, and Stra?nická.
Regular Maintenance and Updates
Elevators and platforms crucial for barrier-free access undergo regular maintenance to ensure their optimal functionality. The status of these facilities is consistently updated and made available to the public on the Prague Public Transit Company's website, providing transparency and real-time information.
Transporting Bicycles in PID System
Ensuring a smooth and compliant journey, the transportation of bicycles on various modes of public transportation is allowed, with specific guidelines to enhance safety and efficiency. Here's a comprehensive overview:
Authorized Transportation
Bicycles are permitted on the subway, trams, cable cars, cycle buses, and vessels, adhering to specified directions in designated sections. A detailed list of permitted sections is available on the carrier's website (www.dpp.cz) or the ROPID organization's website (www.ropid.cz). Additionally, information can be obtained by contacting the telephone line at 296191817.
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Metro Transportation
In the metro, bicycles are exclusively transported on the last platform of each metro train car in the direction of travel. Passengers must board the vehicle through the door marked with the corresponding pictogram. Exceptions may be granted, allowing bicycles on other metro platforms, excluding the first platform behind the driver's cabin, subject to written exemptions for event organizers.
Tram Transportation
Trams accommodate bicycles on platforms designated for transporting baby carriages during specific hours. This includes weekdays outside the hours between 14:00 and 19:00 and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Bicycles should be transported in specified directions within designated sections and time frames on tram trains designed for passenger transport.
Cableway Transportation
On cableways, bicycles are transported in compartments marked with the appropriate pictogram.
Passenger Responsibilities
Passengers transporting bicycles must adhere to specific provisions, including:
For additional guidelines on traveling with a pram or pet, passengers are encouraged to consult the DPP website, which provides a comprehensive series of pictograms and pictures. These guidelines collectively contribute to a harmonious coexistence of cyclists and other passengers within Prague's public transit system.
Christmas Fleet 2023
The Christmas fleet, or Váno?ní flotila, is a special fleet of public transport vehicles in Prague that is decorated for the holiday season. The fleet includes trams and buses that are adorned with festive lights and decorations.
Festive Illumination Launch
The Christmas Fleet festivities commence with an official lighting ceremony on December 2, 2023, at 5:15 p.m. The event takes place at the St?e?ovice tram depot, marking the beginning of the holiday transformation.
Parade Through Iconic Locations
From 5:30 p.m., the specially-decorated trams and buses perform a 30-minute parade through the heart of Prague. The carefully planned route showcases some of the city's most iconic locations, including St?e?ovice Depot, Hrad?anská, Sparta, Strossmayerovo náměstí, Vltavská, ?tvanice, Tě?nov, Bílá Labu?, Náměstí Republiky, Dlouhá t?ída, nab. E. Bene?e, and Malostranská. The vehicles make a brief stop on the Mánes Bridge for a picturesque photo op before concluding at Staroměstská around 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Fleet Overview
The Christmas Fleet includes trams like the Tatra T3R and historical models such as the ?koda 14 T and ?koda 15T. The unique "Maza?ka" Lubrication Tram, originally used to lubricate rails, is also part of the festive fleet, adorned with holiday decorations. Additionally, vintage trams from the early 20th century, such as those on routes 41 and 42, provide a nostalgic journey through Prague's historic center.
Special Routes and Schedule
The T3CS tram is a type of Czech tramcar produced by ?KD Tatra between 1960 and 1999, with 13,991 powered units and 122 unpowered trailers sold worldwide. The T3CS tram was most numerous in Prague, where over 1,000 vehicles were delivered. The T3CS tram was designed to meet difficult specifications, including having the same capacity as its predecessor, the Tatra T2, but being easier to build. The T3CS tram is still in use in Prague today, although it has been largely replaced by newer trams such as the 15T.
The ?koda 15T is a newer model of tram that was introduced in 2011 and is manufactured by ?koda Transportation. The 15T trams are equipped with air conditioning, low floors, and a modern design. They are also more energy-efficient than older models of trams. The 15T trams operate on all three metro lines in Prague and are a popular mode of transportation.
The ?koda 14 T is a five-carbody section uni-directional low-floor tram developed by ?koda Transportation for the Prague tram system. The vehicle's body was designed by Porsche Design Group. The 14 T has six axles, and the low-floor area represents 50% of the entire vehicle floor.
The “Maza?ka” Lubrication (Maintenance) Tram is a unique service vehicle that was used to lubricate the rails in the city of Prague before the 15T trams were equipped with a lubrication system. A T3CS tram that was rebuilt into a maintenance “workhorse” type vehicle, the “Maza?ka” involves a wide range of structural and technological modifications. The vehicle can still be seen at Christmas when it is adorned with decorations as part of the seasonal fleet.
Special Routes and Schedule
The historic two-axle tram is a vintage tram built in the early 20th century during the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Today, the tram runs on two special routes —41 and 42— that take passengers through the city's historic center and past some of its most famous landmarks.
Four MV 2000 trams, built from 1928 to 1931, still work the line 42 route. The oldest car that serves on Line 42 is the 240 motorized car, built in 1908. Its benches are wooden, with some running down the sides of the tram. The line also features the 349 motorized car, built in 1915, which had one-piece sliding doors and electromagnetic rail brakes.
The Historic Tram 41 route runs exclusively on weekends and national holidays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and operates on an hourly schedule. Please note that the ticket fee for Tram 41 is not included in the normal DPP transport service, so you must purchase your ticket when you board. A regular single ticket costs CZK 50, while a full-day ticket of CZK 100is also available.
Diverse Fleet Components
The SOR NB 12 and SOR NB 18 are two types of buses that are used in Prague's public transportation system. The SOR NB 12 is a small bus that is used on local routes, while the SOR NB 18 is a larger articulated bus that is used on longer routes. Both buses are equipped with air conditioning and low floors, making them accessible to passengers with disabilities.
The Pet?ín funicular is a funicular railway that goes from Ujezd in Lesser Town to the top of Petrin Hill with one middle stop, Nebozizek, in between. It started working in 1891 and is the easiest way to get to Petrin Gardens and its famous Petrin Lookout Tower nicknamed Eifel Tower of Prague. The funicular plays an important role in Prague’s infrastructure and is considered to be an attraction. The funicular is exclusively for climbing Petrin Hill to reach the top and see all of the sites in that area.
Light for Metro Competition 2023
Jan Po?, a distinguished Czech artist, recently won the "Light for Metro" competition, a collaborative initiative by the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) and the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague (GHMP). The competition's objective was to craft a new art installation, a luminous masterpiece, destined for the Florenc C station vestibule.
Po?'s winning creation, aptly named "Synapse," harnesses the power of electrical discharges and their intricate transmissions to fashion a compelling visual metaphor. This metaphor ingeniously captures the essence of public transport as the pulsating nervous system of the city.
In this artistic endeavor, the Florenc C station vestibule is set to be transformed into a dynamic space, where light takes center stage to narrate the story of urban connectivity. Po?'s Synapse promises to evoke a sensory journey, symbolizing the vibrant lifeblood coursing through the veins of Prague's public transportation network.
Conclusion
As Line 23 gracefully yields the spotlight to Line 24, Jan Po?'s masterpiece, "Synapse," illuminates a symbolic shift. In the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Prague's wheels persist in their rhythmic revolution, weaving the city's storied past into its visually engaging present and promising future.
Czechia, 17 December 2023
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1 年My favourite is the 22 tram Czechia