The 15T is an institution. The interior just feels so open and airy. Wikipedia says the model produced for Prague can hold 300 passengers and I believe it.
Not just 100% low floor but with bogies under the cabs. However, it does have bogies under the articulations (common on light floor light rail) and really narrow articulation gangways, rather than fixed centre bogies, floating articulations and wider articulation gangways and has not gone well. The upcoming 52T does have stub segments rather than bogies under articulations, but its cabs are slightly overhanging, but not entirely, like the 14T, most other low floor trams, and especially most high floor rail vehicles - trains as well as trams. Also, it does have internal steps over the centre bogies, so is actually more like 95% low floor.
why is everyone complaining about ride quality, its a bloody tram, not a bed, you are taking it for a few stops and as long it doesn't break your back its all good
9:05 - There was 2 contracts, 20 3-segment trams + 6 4-segment, 41m, 15T1's, delivered between 2010-2012 and 2nd one with 15 3-segment and 5 4-segment one's. Delivered between 2017-2020. And Riga's 15T are wider then Prague's one. Ours are 2.5m, and was fitted with AC from the beginning. Overall in Riga we have plans for ordering more, but some parts of the network aren't ready for 15T, such as 5th line northern part, where tracks are really bad and hasn't been repaired from 90's. As for now - we need around 35 new 15T's to completely get rid of Tatra T3's and T6's Keep it up, Mate! Very interesting story!
BTW the missing ACs in T14/15 was not because of the manufacturer, but because the city didn't want/order those trams with AC - and if you want to know what hell might feel like, just ride the 14T on a hot sunny day...
The Škoda 15T was truly revolutionary and over-engineered. Its technical strengths became its operational limitations. Having 16 motors with permanent magnets that directly drive individual wheels without a transmission and a four-point suspension layout on the inner bogies makes not for a very pleasant ride, especially on certain sections of the network. Initially the 15T was also very noisy, almost as the universally hated 14T. Some issues of the 15T had been fixed, but the fact that Prague opted for the 52T shows that an over-engineered and theoretically superior (on paper) streetcar is not necessarily better than proven concepts of classical tram axles and geared motors that run an entire wheelset. The new Škoda 52T was developed from the Škoda 29T/30T models that run in Bratislava since 2015. The Škoda 29T/30T model was specially developed for Bratislava (and does not run anywhere else), because the 15T has some undesirable running characteristics that Bratislava wanted to avoid. While the 29T/30T may seem technologically less advanced than the 15T and a step back, they are much quieter than the 15T, have a far better ride quality even on sections of worse tracks and since they reverted to decades long and proven concepts they did not suffer that many initial issues as the 15T did when it was put into service. The new Škoda 52T is practically a further development of the 29T/30T concept, and I am very curious how it will be. If it will ride the rails as smooth as the 29T/30T in Bratislava, then Prague is in for a treat. The bogies of the 29T/30T are really well designed, they produce little noise and even though the inner bogies are fixed (non-pivoting), the wheel flange wear is low, much lower compared to the narrow gauge bogies of ČKD Tatra trams. The oldest Škoda 30T streetcars in Bratislava have driven more than 600 thousand km in only 9 years of operation and remain in good shape. The majority of the trams was made in 2015, with a small part in 2016, when 60 units were delivered. Their success led to further 30 units being made in 2023 and 2024 and the last 10 trams are expected to be delivered in 2026. So in two more years, Bratislava will have 100 new air-conditioned, low floor streetcars. A very good design, relying on proven concepts, not overly complicated, smooth running and good for passengers, drivers and the operator (easy maintenance, low running costs). I can only hope that the Škoda 52T will be as popular in Prague, as the Škoda 29T/30T is in Bratislava.
we should see first 52T (20 trams) in december this year and another by the 2026. hopefully they fixed the kinks the 15T had and used it well in designing the 52T. still cannot wait to see the train in the streets.
This video lead me into the rabbit hole of looking up the 29/30Ts that are operated in Bratislava, and I was surprised to find that they are based on 26T and not on 15T, even though the design language and silhouette is much closer to 15T. (I still prefer the more angular and aggressive design of older 15Ts, compared to 29/30T) The 29/30T are awesome though, very smooth and quiet ride, the AC is ice cold during summer, although they do have some raised sections compared to 15T having completely low floor.
Now 14Ts are coursing mainly on line 10, which I happen to use from time to time. And each time I see it coming - I get absolutely discouraged. It's terribly deisgned, terribly placed seats make the ride irritating. When I am not in rush I rather wait for 15T, or any other type of tram. 14T has to disappear from the rails.
@@codefident4939 Škoda 15t is a piece of shit, and i know it because i live in prague. Theres not enough space and the design is just awful. Its the worst tram you can find in prague. ČKD Tatra has created the best trams, and Tatra T3 doesnt have any malfunctions, Škoda 15T in the other hand, has some serious issues and has limited speed because otherwise it would break into several pieces and that happened before. Line 23 already has T3SUCS its retro and some other trams are on it. I know that Tatra T3 will stay in work for more years than Škoda 15T. Škoda 15T is bullshit.
@@Janevimteda_ I'm not from Prague so idk, maybe you are right. When I've ridden 15T (in Prague ofc) there were fine, although I think DPP should retrofit them with AC (this is what my city, Kraków, is doing with older Bombardier NGT6 trams). Also I feel like the older 15T's bogies are louder when going through intersections. I think that Škoda 14T (and also 13T, 16T, 19T) is much worse. Ride quality is bad, the motors (or some other electric parts) are extremely noisy and the interior design is a one big mistake like metro-style side seats or pretty high floor in 3 out of 5 sections of the tram.
@@codefident4939 No , he's full of shit or T3 nostalgist. 15T is the superior model currently running in Prage in terms of space and accessibility. That Tatra does not have malfunctions is just laughable - just 5 days ago one blocked a crossroad I guess because of an electric fault and batteries running out. The rescue crew tried resetting pantograph several times and ended up borrowing a front battery from T15 stuck in queue behind. How do I know? Because my (and several other kids) had to watch the entire thing.
I have been fascinated by i ever since it first came out. Clever, innovative and very snazzy looking too (the upcoming model isn't quite as attractive though). Many of the solutions chosen are surprisingly simple and yet effective and robust. Very different from other manufacturer's either insanely over-complicated or disappointingly sloppy constructions. Just look at all those horrible track eaters found all over Europe. All in the name of accessibility, but not very well thought out at all. They may be cheap to buy, but the actual long-term cost is often staggering. It's somewhat surprising that 15T hasn't been purchased by more foreign customers. I know that it is expensive, but it has a lot to offer. Sadly, complicated procurement rules, which are easily used and abused by the legal departments of the big actors, and lots of political backroom dealings makes it difficult to sell this kind of product, even if it happens to be very good.
Just yesterday Škoda delivered first tram 37T - if im not remembering wrong. What is important is, that it is supposedly longest tram worldwide. For Germany, city of Mannheim.
I don't know what problem of yours was, but for me WiFi worked pretty well and was very convenient. Some stops had the WiFi connection too before it was all scrapped (i think the reason was covid and cost cutting).
(LONG COMMENT) Amsterdam has a similar story to this city, except Amsterdam's bridges pose a problem hardly any other city with a tram network has to face. The bridges bend alot vertically causing wear on any tram, you can't really blame a tram for that can you? Most arent made for it, so their floor height is around 30cm to cope with this, but this deviated from standards around the world which brought unique problems with it. The current Siemens Combino's wear down the tracks alot also because of fixed bogies on an older (legacy) network with tighter turn radii than other cities in the country. Now Stadler and škoda are the only ones who actually WANT to work with Amsterdam on new trams. Alstom at the time didnt have the right catalog and had no interest in solving Amsterdam's issue, its just a rumor but appearently Alstom had heard from Siemens and CAF that Amsterdam is a difficult client. At the time of writing, Alstom's TW20 or atleast a modified version would probably come close to being a match for the city's needs. I had my doubts with škoda but this video proves that they might just have what Siemens and CAF dont want to do anymore. What Alstom didnt want to start with in the first place. And what Bombardier and even LHB failed to prove with test vehicles in the 90's. Now we're standing at the end of the Combino's service lives Stadler and škoda will compete to who will serve Amstedam. Though i believe the 52T will be the best fit for Amstedam through it's characteristics alone! There are 155 Combino's that wait for replacement, a plan has been made to do this in batches of three to avoid choosing and buying one type of tram that might not suit the city's needs well enough as was the mistake with the Combino leading the city to be stuck with them for another 30 years. perhaps škoda will play a pivoting role at the dawn of this change with what started with the 15T
I can confirm the inconvenience of 14T. The narrow part with seats on sides is often empty, because no one wants to deal with it. I don't know anyone who would like that tram.
I wonder why is it that, unlike the celebrated Tatra T3, no Tatras T6A5 have ever been modernised and retrofitted with middle low-floor sections? As, for all I know, they seem to have been quite a success in terms of their practical performance. Strange, innit?
The T3 PLF isn't actually retrofit at all, physically they're entirely built from scratch. They just replaced a decommissioned T3 with a whole new tram while keeping the paperwork, basically - I think that this is what allowed them to keep proper fully opening large windows on a newly designed tram, despite dumb regulations. They are built on top of VarCB3LF tram chassis, with the cosmetics of T3. They aren't even the same length, they're 1 meter longer than T3s.
T6A5 is in fact even higher-floor than T3 (even if not by much). And those that had been purchased by czech cities, have been new enough to not need new body, as opposed to older T3s. The "reco" T3s (using the new Var CB3 body with middle low-floor section) are in fact complete new-builts, from the old trams they're getting "papers" (registration) and sometimes old reworked bogies. When they are new built, there is no need to stick to any previous form, so they are modelled similar to T3 but there are positive changes, like new improved-view front (and back) sections, plus the front and rear doors are never more at angle to the track/platform. The power electronics of T6A5 has certainly been never and better than the "old" mechanical controller of T3, but there are allready many newer versions backfitted to T3s (like TV Progress) and current versions are far newer and better to T6A5, together with new engines using AC drive (TV Europulse) as opposed to old DC motors. So, T6A5 are ugly and unpleasant to use and being phased out, and there is no wish (and no reason) to do anything about them. Maybe their bogies will remain as spare parts for DC versions of reko T3.
7:26 still not even remotely enough, not putting ac in these is just stupid. its better to wait for T3 in the summer because of this. there were plans for retrofitting the older 15Ts with AC, however Hana Kordova Marvanova blocked the decision to go ahead with it, as she does with a lot of good stuff in this city. awesome. also they are too heavy and noisy because of the weight. unique motor configuration is unique for a good reason, its not the best & most relaible. I prefer skoda 29T & 30T which is basically an older 52T
@@TheTramly nah mate you're good, every time you upload you're cookin straight gas (also pls make a vid on the ban of self balancing vehicles in the city center (if you want to), smth like "why is this sign all over prague" idk, and i would be honored to help with the making of that vid too)
15Ts (at least the older ones) had or have one big problem for me - those wooden seats. They're kinda slippery in a way and unergonomic. The newer ones fixed the issue with seats reminiscant of the T3 egg-type seats.
Thanks for all the detail - really interesting to learn about the developments over the years. As an aside: when I put 'Škoda' into Google Translate - I get 'Damage' in English - is that really correct? - a coincidence? - a joke? Please explain and out me out of the suspense!
Škoda was the last name of the founder all the way back then, but the word "Škoda" in the Czech language means damage, or shame, in the context of "aw, that's a shame"
@@ricktownend9144 In fact, there is slightly derisive nickname for Škoda factory (which btw sold the century-old logo recently, so will never more use that for long) that is "Schadewerke Pilsen" which plays just with german translation of the "other" meaning of škoda, and points to the half-german roots of the factory (during Austria-Hungary times). You know, Škoda company has quite many oponents especially bcse some questionable business practices see for example 109E lok fiasco where they delivered far later than by contract, not fulfilling some contractual parameters and let the customer pay extra for that...
Right, they are one of the best there are these days... but so far, only in the 22m version (not many cities use this size, often is a bit small in single, and a bit big on double, but Brno uses them mainly on backbone line "1" where in double sets they fit good...)
Probably not, it's today technology, it will get some software errors and company that programmed won't even exist or something, so they will scrap them because of that, that's my predition. 🙂 Today technology is not designed to survive decades.
People tend to overlook the serious problems the 15T came with. It had huge problems with its wheels falling apart at high speed resulting un the reduction of the max speed it can travel at. It originally also came with poorly designed seats that caused people to fall off as well as a lower than advertised capacity. It also cost several times more than any other tram. And on a personal note its loud and ugly.
It is loud, but still better than the 14T. I encourage you to try the 29T/30T in Bratislava. They are surprisingly quiet and smooth riding, compared to both models that run in Prague.
Yes the old wooden seats... paradox is they have been selected by public questioning, but only based on pictures... in reality, they were good looking but neither easy to maintain (easily scratched) nor good function (hard, and people were sliding much on their surface)...
RT6N1 wasn't that bad... Sadly, it never got it's kinks hammered out. As for 14T... The thing is so damn loud, it got the nickname of "Moving blacksmith".
I wonder, I remember some years back there also being for a few months another type of tram. I think it was low floor single wagon tram. I think it drove around in Holešovice and I am pretty sure it too was low floor. Does anyone remember what it was called? I tried searching but could not find anything.
29Ts in Bratislava are honesly better. Basically 15T but it doesnt have quite as tight interior imo (the bendy bits are as wide as the rest of the tram)
29T/30T in Bratislava have a completely different bogie design. A much better one, relying on old and proven concepts that are cheaper, simpler and ultimately better. Not everything new, modern over-engineered is always the best. The new Škoda 52T trams for Prague are a further development of the 29T/30T and I hope they will ride equally good and silent.
I never knew the Alsthom TFS model (stands for "Tramway Français Standard" ie "Standard French Tram") was exported to Czechia as the RT6N1. This model was very successful in France and is still in service today. It has some flaws but I prefer it over its successor the Citadis x02 (which has been the most common tram in France for the last 20 years). The Citadis is somewhat sluggish, turns poorly, and has very poor suspension and ride quality.
There are 2 Škodas - Škoda Auto, which makes cars, which is indeed based in Mladá Boleslav And then there's Škoda Transportation, which makes trams, trolleybuses, locomotives, etc, which is based in Plzeň
@@jakub.kantner Škoda was founded in Pilsen, as heavy engeneering factory (railcars, guns, turbines) and only in 1925 merged with the Mladá Boleslav car factory, which until that carried the name "Laurin&Klement"... Novadays, the car factory is subsidiary of VW concern, and Pilsen factory is owned by some parent company based on Cyprus, later in Netherlands...
The 15T is an institution. The interior just feels so open and airy. Wikipedia says the model produced for Prague can hold 300 passengers and I believe it.
Not just 100% low floor but with bogies under the cabs. However, it does have bogies under the articulations (common on light floor light rail) and really narrow articulation gangways, rather than fixed centre bogies, floating articulations and wider articulation gangways and has not gone well.
The upcoming 52T does have stub segments rather than bogies under articulations, but its cabs are slightly overhanging, but not entirely, like the 14T, most other low floor trams, and especially most high floor rail vehicles - trains as well as trams. Also, it does have internal steps over the centre bogies, so is actually more like 95% low floor.
why is everyone complaining about ride quality, its a bloody tram, not a bed, you are taking it for a few stops and as long it doesn't break your back its all good
15T with AC is the best tram in Prague
Tatra T3 is with an open window is the best tram in Prague.
Isn't that the AC that's too weak to cool the tram down in summer and blows directly out when the windows get open?
9:05 - There was 2 contracts, 20 3-segment trams + 6 4-segment, 41m, 15T1's, delivered between 2010-2012 and 2nd one with 15 3-segment and 5 4-segment one's. Delivered between 2017-2020. And Riga's 15T are wider then Prague's one. Ours are 2.5m, and was fitted with AC from the beginning.
Overall in Riga we have plans for ordering more, but some parts of the network aren't ready for 15T, such as 5th line northern part, where tracks are really bad and hasn't been repaired from 90's. As for now - we need around 35 new 15T's to completely get rid of Tatra T3's and T6's
Keep it up, Mate! Very interesting story!
BTW the missing ACs in T14/15 was not because of the manufacturer, but because the city didn't want/order those trams with AC - and if you want to know what hell might feel like, just ride the 14T on a hot sunny day...
I know that feeling, unfortunately 💀
The Škoda 15T was truly revolutionary and over-engineered. Its technical strengths became its operational limitations. Having 16 motors with permanent magnets that directly drive individual wheels without a transmission and a four-point suspension layout on the inner bogies makes not for a very pleasant ride, especially on certain sections of the network. Initially the 15T was also very noisy, almost as the universally hated 14T. Some issues of the 15T had been fixed, but the fact that Prague opted for the 52T shows that an over-engineered and theoretically superior (on paper) streetcar is not necessarily better than proven concepts of classical tram axles and geared motors that run an entire wheelset. The new Škoda 52T was developed from the Škoda 29T/30T models that run in Bratislava since 2015. The Škoda 29T/30T model was specially developed for Bratislava (and does not run anywhere else), because the 15T has some undesirable running characteristics that Bratislava wanted to avoid. While the 29T/30T may seem technologically less advanced than the 15T and a step back, they are much quieter than the 15T, have a far better ride quality even on sections of worse tracks and since they reverted to decades long and proven concepts they did not suffer that many initial issues as the 15T did when it was put into service. The new Škoda 52T is practically a further development of the 29T/30T concept, and I am very curious how it will be. If it will ride the rails as smooth as the 29T/30T in Bratislava, then Prague is in for a treat. The bogies of the 29T/30T are really well designed, they produce little noise and even though the inner bogies are fixed (non-pivoting), the wheel flange wear is low, much lower compared to the narrow gauge bogies of ČKD Tatra trams. The oldest Škoda 30T streetcars in Bratislava have driven more than 600 thousand km in only 9 years of operation and remain in good shape. The majority of the trams was made in 2015, with a small part in 2016, when 60 units were delivered. Their success led to further 30 units being made in 2023 and 2024 and the last 10 trams are expected to be delivered in 2026. So in two more years, Bratislava will have 100 new air-conditioned, low floor streetcars. A very good design, relying on proven concepts, not overly complicated, smooth running and good for passengers, drivers and the operator (easy maintenance, low running costs). I can only hope that the Škoda 52T will be as popular in Prague, as the Škoda 29T/30T is in Bratislava.
we should see first 52T (20 trams) in december this year and another by the 2026. hopefully they fixed the kinks the 15T had and used it well in designing the 52T. still cannot wait to see the train in the streets.
@erikziak1249 is the 15t in Riga good?
@@longiusaescius2537 Practically the same as in Prague. You have to ask in Riga.
This video lead me into the rabbit hole of looking up the 29/30Ts that are operated in Bratislava, and I was surprised to find that they are based on 26T and not on 15T, even though the design language and silhouette is much closer to 15T. (I still prefer the more angular and aggressive design of older 15Ts, compared to 29/30T)
The 29/30T are awesome though, very smooth and quiet ride, the AC is ice cold during summer, although they do have some raised sections compared to 15T having completely low floor.
Now 14Ts are coursing mainly on line 10, which I happen to use from time to time. And each time I see it coming - I get absolutely discouraged. It's terribly deisgned, terribly placed seats make the ride irritating. When I am not in rush I rather wait for 15T, or any other type of tram.
14T has to disappear from the rails.
I think the 14T is fine, but I do admit the 15T is a bit more enjoyable to be in.
There is nowhere to stand...
Myslím že linka 23 využívá výhradně starší tramvaje
@@T0fu-Freedom starší neznamená horší. Mám mnohem víc rád T Trojku než 14t.
@@the_doomcliff A kde jsem jako napsal že starší tramvaje nemám rád?
They should not replace the tatras, the t3s in prauge are the same thing as the double decker buses are in london
just because it's iconic doesn't mean it's the best thing ever created
@simunpusec1078 You know they can keep some of the T3s and put them on the nostalgic/historical line like 23?
@@codefident4939 Škoda 15t is a piece of shit, and i know it because i live in prague. Theres not enough space and the design is just awful. Its the worst tram you can find in prague. ČKD Tatra has created the best trams, and Tatra T3 doesnt have any malfunctions, Škoda 15T in the other hand, has some serious issues and has limited speed because otherwise it would break into several pieces and that happened before. Line 23 already has T3SUCS its retro and some other trams are on it. I know that Tatra T3 will stay in work for more years than Škoda 15T. Škoda 15T is bullshit.
@@Janevimteda_ I'm not from Prague so idk, maybe you are right. When I've ridden 15T (in Prague ofc) there were fine, although I think DPP should retrofit them with AC (this is what my city, Kraków, is doing with older Bombardier NGT6 trams). Also I feel like the older 15T's bogies are louder when going through intersections.
I think that Škoda 14T (and also 13T, 16T, 19T) is much worse. Ride quality is bad, the motors (or some other electric parts) are extremely noisy and the interior design is a one big mistake like metro-style side seats or pretty high floor in 3 out of 5 sections of the tram.
@@codefident4939 No , he's full of shit or T3 nostalgist. 15T is the superior model currently running in Prage in terms of space and accessibility. That Tatra does not have malfunctions is just laughable - just 5 days ago one blocked a crossroad I guess because of an electric fault and batteries running out. The rescue crew tried resetting pantograph several times and ended up borrowing a front battery from T15 stuck in queue behind. How do I know? Because my (and several other kids) had to watch the entire thing.
I have been fascinated by i ever since it first came out. Clever, innovative and very snazzy looking too (the upcoming model isn't quite as attractive though). Many of the solutions chosen are surprisingly simple and yet effective and robust.
Very different from other manufacturer's either insanely over-complicated or disappointingly sloppy constructions. Just look at all those horrible track eaters found all over Europe. All in the name of accessibility, but not very well thought out at all. They may be cheap to buy, but the actual long-term cost is often staggering.
It's somewhat surprising that 15T hasn't been purchased by more foreign customers. I know that it is expensive, but it has a lot to offer. Sadly, complicated procurement rules, which are easily used and abused by the legal departments of the big actors, and lots of political backroom dealings makes it difficult to sell this kind of product, even if it happens to be very good.
It looks like the 15t did not go well.
Just yesterday Škoda delivered first tram 37T - if im not remembering wrong. What is important is, that it is supposedly longest tram worldwide. For Germany, city of Mannheim.
I don't know what problem of yours was, but for me WiFi worked pretty well and was very convenient. Some stops had the WiFi connection too before it was all scrapped (i think the reason was covid and cost cutting).
That's possible, idk it never worked for mr
Awaiting Škoda 30T of Bratislava operation, truly nice vehicle to see and ride
Hope it'll get on the rails soon!
(LONG COMMENT)
Amsterdam has a similar story to this city, except Amsterdam's bridges pose a problem hardly any other city with a tram network has to face. The bridges bend alot vertically causing wear on any tram, you can't really blame a tram for that can you?
Most arent made for it, so their floor height is around 30cm to cope with this, but this deviated from standards around the world which brought unique problems with it.
The current Siemens Combino's wear down the tracks alot also because of fixed bogies on an older (legacy) network with tighter turn radii than other cities in the country.
Now Stadler and škoda are the only ones who actually WANT to work with Amsterdam on new trams.
Alstom at the time didnt have the right catalog and had no interest in solving Amsterdam's issue, its just a rumor but appearently Alstom had heard from Siemens and CAF that Amsterdam is a difficult client.
At the time of writing, Alstom's TW20 or atleast a modified version would probably come close to being a match for the city's needs.
I had my doubts with škoda but this video proves that they might just have what Siemens and CAF
dont want to do anymore.
What Alstom didnt want to start with in the first place.
And what Bombardier and even LHB
failed to prove with test vehicles in the 90's.
Now we're standing at the end of the Combino's service lives Stadler and škoda will compete to who will serve Amstedam. Though i believe the 52T will be the best fit for Amstedam through it's characteristics alone!
There are 155 Combino's that wait for replacement, a plan has been made to do this in batches of three to avoid choosing and buying one type of tram that might not suit the city's needs well enough as was the mistake with the Combino leading the city to be stuck with them for another 30 years.
perhaps škoda will play a pivoting role at the dawn of this change with what started with the 15T
11:35 where was that filmed? I've searched for that place quite some time.
To be honest, I have no idea, that clip was licensed from a fellow RUclips user under Creative Commons
Thank you for delivering a very good quality video yet again! I really love watching your videos!
I can confirm the inconvenience of 14T. The narrow part with seats on sides is often empty, because no one wants to deal with it. I don't know anyone who would like that tram.
I wonder why is it that, unlike the celebrated Tatra T3, no Tatras T6A5 have ever been modernised and retrofitted with middle low-floor sections? As, for all I know, they seem to have been quite a success in terms of their practical performance. Strange, innit?
The T3 PLF isn't actually retrofit at all, physically they're entirely built from scratch. They just replaced a decommissioned T3 with a whole new tram while keeping the paperwork, basically - I think that this is what allowed them to keep proper fully opening large windows on a newly designed tram, despite dumb regulations.
They are built on top of VarCB3LF tram chassis, with the cosmetics of T3. They aren't even the same length, they're 1 meter longer than T3s.
T6A5 is in fact even higher-floor than T3 (even if not by much). And those that had been purchased by czech cities, have been new enough to not need new body, as opposed to older T3s. The "reco" T3s (using the new Var CB3 body with middle low-floor section) are in fact complete new-builts, from the old trams they're getting "papers" (registration) and sometimes old reworked bogies.
When they are new built, there is no need to stick to any previous form, so they are modelled similar to T3 but there are positive changes, like new improved-view front (and back) sections, plus the front and rear doors are never more at angle to the track/platform. The power electronics of T6A5 has certainly been never and better than the "old" mechanical controller of T3, but there are allready many newer versions backfitted to T3s (like TV Progress) and current versions are far newer and better to T6A5, together with new engines using AC drive (TV Europulse) as opposed to old DC motors.
So, T6A5 are ugly and unpleasant to use and being phased out, and there is no wish (and no reason) to do anything about them. Maybe their bogies will remain as spare parts for DC versions of reko T3.
7:26 still not even remotely enough, not putting ac in these is just stupid. its better to wait for T3 in the summer because of this. there were plans for retrofitting the older 15Ts with AC, however Hana Kordova Marvanova blocked the decision to go ahead with it, as she does with a lot of good stuff in this city. awesome.
also they are too heavy and noisy because of the weight. unique motor configuration is unique for a good reason, its not the best & most relaible.
I prefer skoda 29T & 30T which is basically an older 52T
While credit is naturally due to Škoda, the 15T was designed by VUKV a.s.
FINALLLYYYYYY THANKS SO MUCH (im the guy who first asked for this)
You're welcome! And I'm sorry for the delay, university started and to put it lightly, it's kinda kicking my ass
@@TheTramly nah mate you're good, every time you upload you're cookin straight gas
(also pls make a vid on the ban of self balancing vehicles in the city center (if you want to), smth like "why is this sign all over prague" idk, and i would be honored to help with the making of that vid too)
@@TheTramly nah its fine, those are justified priorities
15Ts (at least the older ones) had or have one big problem for me - those wooden seats. They're kinda slippery in a way and unergonomic. The newer ones fixed the issue with seats reminiscant of the T3 egg-type seats.
I never really minded them, but yeah they could get slippery at times
Thanks for all the detail - really interesting to learn about the developments over the years.
As an aside: when I put 'Škoda' into Google Translate - I get 'Damage' in English - is that really correct? - a coincidence? - a joke? Please explain and out me out of the suspense!
Škoda was the last name of the founder all the way back then, but the word "Škoda" in the Czech language means damage, or shame, in the context of "aw, that's a shame"
@@TheTramly Moc děkuji za vysvětlení!
@@ricktownend9144 In fact, there is slightly derisive nickname for Škoda factory (which btw sold the century-old logo recently, so will never more use that for long) that is "Schadewerke Pilsen" which plays just with german translation of the "other" meaning of škoda, and points to the half-german roots of the factory (during Austria-Hungary times). You know, Škoda company has quite many oponents especially bcse some questionable business practices see for example 109E lok fiasco where they delivered far later than by contract, not fulfilling some contractual parameters and let the customer pay extra for that...
Can you make a video covering the EVO2 (DRAK) tram of Brno
Right, those literally make me happy every time I have the chance to ride them. I find them perfect.
@@SmrdiTiBabka I live in Brno and every day i ride to school, i ride in one of these
Right, they are one of the best there are these days... but so far, only in the 22m version (not many cities use this size, often is a bit small in single, and a bit big on double, but Brno uses them mainly on backbone line "1" where in double sets they fit good...)
I hope 15T remains as long as the T3.
Probably not, it's today technology, it will get some software errors and company that programmed won't even exist or something, so they will scrap them because of that, that's my predition. 🙂 Today technology is not designed to survive decades.
I hope T3 will remain longer than 15T.
People tend to overlook the serious problems the 15T came with. It had huge problems with its wheels falling apart at high speed resulting un the reduction of the max speed it can travel at. It originally also came with poorly designed seats that caused people to fall off as well as a lower than advertised capacity. It also cost several times more than any other tram. And on a personal note its loud and ugly.
It is loud, but still better than the 14T. I encourage you to try the 29T/30T in Bratislava. They are surprisingly quiet and smooth riding, compared to both models that run in Prague.
Easy to overlook when everyone's first thought is just "thank god its not the 14t nor the kt8n."
Yes the old wooden seats... paradox is they have been selected by public questioning, but only based on pictures... in reality, they were good looking but neither easy to maintain (easily scratched) nor good function (hard, and people were sliding much on their surface)...
Комеnтář prо аlgоriтмus.
Toto je vskutku jeden z komentářů
@@apat4s A tady je další.
RT6N1 wasn't that bad... Sadly, it never got it's kinks hammered out. As for 14T... The thing is so damn loud, it got the nickname of "Moving blacksmith".
Classic T3s with "egg seats" were the best, I want them back! I hate modern boneshaking trams, but 15t is at least ok, 14t was terrible.
I wonder, I remember some years back there also being for a few months another type of tram. I think it was low floor single wagon tram. I think it drove around in Holešovice and I am pretty sure it too was low floor. Does anyone remember what it was called? I tried searching but could not find anything.
I think it was the Pragoimex EVO 1
@@matyaskriz yep thats the one
@@simonzprahy9270 That one with the "retro" livery is the only "T3 legacy" type there will stay for a decade more or so...
29Ts in Bratislava are honesly better. Basically 15T but it doesnt have quite as tight interior imo (the bendy bits are as wide as the rest of the tram)
29T/30T in Bratislava have a completely different bogie design. A much better one, relying on old and proven concepts that are cheaper, simpler and ultimately better. Not everything new, modern over-engineered is always the best. The new Škoda 52T trams for Prague are a further development of the 29T/30T and I hope they will ride equally good and silent.
@@erikziak1249 Why didn't Škoda offer ForCity Smart tram like the 45T for Brno instead?
I hate their wood seats
"revoluční "💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
Možná tak pro prahu
God I hate the 14T...
I never knew the Alsthom TFS model (stands for "Tramway Français Standard" ie "Standard French Tram") was exported to Czechia as the RT6N1. This model was very successful in France and is still in service today. It has some flaws but I prefer it over its successor the Citadis x02 (which has been the most common tram in France for the last 20 years). The Citadis is somewhat sluggish, turns poorly, and has very poor suspension and ride quality.
It was not exported, it was only an inspiration. At least that's what wikipedia says...
Not exported rather copied by the infamous architect Patrik Kotas
PESA Swing is better.
yeah and ruined prague cuz it looks like shit
Škoda is Mladá Boleslav based not Plzeň
There are 2 Škodas - Škoda Auto, which makes cars, which is indeed based in Mladá Boleslav
And then there's Škoda Transportation, which makes trams, trolleybuses, locomotives, etc, which is based in Plzeň
@@TheTramly aaah thank you, didn't know
@@jakub.kantner Škoda was founded in Pilsen, as heavy engeneering factory (railcars, guns, turbines) and only in 1925 merged with the Mladá Boleslav car factory, which until that carried the name "Laurin&Klement"... Novadays, the car factory is subsidiary of VW concern, and Pilsen factory is owned by some parent company based on Cyprus, later in Netherlands...