New from the Skoda Plzen plant: the 52T tram

The Skoda Plzen company does not need a special introduction. After all, the high-speed passenger electric locomotives of the ChS series, which it produced in previous years, are still in use in large quantities throughout the post-Soviet space.


But the plant has long since changed its profile and specializes more in creating fast and comfortable trains, which it supplies to neighboring countries. Trolleybuses of this brand are also often exported. Another very promising branch of development is the design of urban rail electric transport.


As you probably understood, we are talking about our expensive trams. Not a single large municipality in the world can do without them for a long time. And sometimes this transport runs in smaller cities as well. One way or another, all these parks need periodic renewal of rolling stock.

As a successful manufacturer of tram equipment

And here factories like Skoda Plzen rush to the rescue. Although the tram part of the history of this legendary enterprise is still very young, specialists have already been able to present to the public more than fifty different designs.

Although there were also passing variants (and those that remained at the prototype stage), there are also models that are successfully used in Prague and other cities. The most popular Skoda 14T and 15T are especially worth mentioning.



A little over six months ago, Skoda Plzen specialists began firing sheet metal parts. They were used for the welded body of the new tram. Today, it is ready, and there should be three experimental units in total. After the first sample body appeared, they inserted into it:

✅ insulation
✅ windows
✅ technical equipment
✅ interior elements, etc.

As planned, the first Skoda 52T tram was sent for testing on the routes of the Czech capital in January 2025. This was the result of several thousand hours spent by specialists on the preparation and implementation of the project. Here is what Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Skoda Group Tomáš Ignáčák said about this:



The Prague Deputy Mayor for Transport added that the path to production was opened by the company's victory in the tender. If the tests and homologation go smoothly, the total number of new 52T units delivered to the capital could reach two hundred. And the first 20 trams should appear by the end of this year.


The first presentation of the new product took place in January 2024. However, since then, there have been noticeable changes both in the color scheme of the vehicle and in its appearance. After all, not only will it now be painted in PID colors, but the width and distribution of the side stripes have also been adjusted.

The technological units have been improved and the issue with spare parts for the vehicle has been resolved. The designers of the manufacturing company (together with representatives of the end user) paid attention to several points at once:

✅ interior lighting designs
✅ final placement of control buttons
✅ equipment and ergonomics of the driver's workplace

There is still a lot to do ahead. After all, the upcoming tests may lead to a decision on refining small parts or software. But overall, the design of the new product looks quite mature and balanced.

Some technical features of the 52T tram

The specialists at the Skoda Plzen plant created a five-link structure that moves on four bogies. The outer ones rotate freely, while the two inner ones rotate only partially. Here are the characteristics of the 52T tram interior:

✅ total length - 32 m
✅ Number of seats – 70 (most – in the direction of travel)
✅ standing places - 173

All carriages of the train are made completely low-floor and will be equipped with air conditioning with an environmentally friendly refrigerant. Both external and internal LED lighting of the Skoda 52T tram is energy-saving.


In addition to air conditioning, future passengers will have access to six information screens and other technologies. These include traveler counting and regenerative braking. Another advantage of the new product is its extremely quiet running, which will contribute to the comfort of city residents outside the train.

Modern design and development prospects

In addition, safety for other road users is also at a high level. The intelligent collision avoidance system used reduces possible accidents involving pedestrians to almost zero. Greater passenger comfort will be provided by:

✅ spacious interior
✅ wide passages between sections
✅ environmentally friendly refrigerant in the air conditioning system
✅ modern information system

The applied technical solutions also look competent. Including: bogies with axles, electromechanical brakes and energy recovery. All this will ensure a reduction in maintenance costs and energy consumption.


Therefore, we can talk not only about the environmental friendliness of the new compositions, but also about the economic benefit of their operation for the city budget. Let's also pay attention to the physical parameters of the equipment:

✅ carriage width – 2,5 m
✅ wheel diameter – 640 mm
✅ step height – 35 cm
✅ five double-leaf doors 1300 mm wide (parallel to the stop axis)

To exit the driver's cabin, there is an external mechanical door. When passing through the cabin, there is an internal sliding door. The interior space is multifunctional, there are 2 places for children and the same number for wheelchairs. And here are other characteristics of the equipment:

✅ empty train weight – 48 t
✅ maximum working speed – 70 km/h
✅ tram life cycle – 30 years

Official test operation of the prototype will begin in the spring of 2025. All comments that arise during this process will be taken into account by the manufacturer when the vehicle goes into production. In general, the vehicle has a fully finished exterior and only requires minor modifications to the interior.


Let us recall that in accordance with the framework agreement between Skoda Group and the Prague carrier, the prospective delivery of up to 200 Skoda ForCity Plus 52T vehicles is expected. In the event of its successful implementation in full, the total cost of the contract will amount to 16,6 billion crowns (approx. 66,5 billion rubles). The mandatory order from the consumer was the initial 40 trams. The first half of them will be delivered this year, the second - by the end of 2026.