Trams in Zagreb

The Zagreb tram network, run by the Zagrebački električni tramvaj (ZET), consists of 15 day and 4 night lines in Zagreb, Croatia.^[1] Trams operate on 116.3 kilometres (72.3 mi)^[1] of metre gauge route. During the day every line runs on average every 5–10 minutes, but almost every station serves at least two routes. Nighttime lines have exact timetables averaging at about every 40 minutes. The first horsecar tram line was opened in 1891,^[2] and the first electric tram ran in 1910.^[2] Zagreb's tram system transported 204 million passengers in 2008.^[1]

History

Horsecar replicas at the Technical Museum in Zagreb

At the end of the 19th century rapid urbanisation took place in Zagreb. City fathers started discussing the idea of installing horsecar system in Zagreb. The construction of one gauge tram track began on 11 May 1891. Tram should have been put in service on 15 August 1891, on the opening day of the Jubilee Economic-Forestry Exhibition. Due to vehicle delivery delay, the tram was put in service on 5 September 1891. That day was officially taken as the beginning of organised public transit system in Zagreb. Gauge was 0.76 m and track length was approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi).

The first electric tram track was opened on 18 August 1910. The horse-drawn trams were kept until a tram electric network was finished and then they were moved to Velika Gorica where they remained in use until 1937.

TMK 101 served Zagreb for over fifty years before retirement in December 2008.

Tatra KT4 serving the line 13 in Zagreb.

The oldest rolling units of the post-World War II tram system were the two-axle TMK 101 trams. Three prototype units were built by ZET workshops in early 1950s, and other 68 units until 1965 by Đuro Đaković factory, with 110 matching trailers. A few of them were replaced by GT6, but they were in regular use until the TMK 2200 series came. They started to be replaced in the 2000s (decade), as the TMK 2200 started going into operation, and by summer 2007 only about 15 of type 101 were still operational, serving only as a substitute for other vehicles. They were eventually pulled out of service in the winter of 2008.

Current lines

Daytime lines

† Line does not operate on weekends and public holidays.
Lines 10 and 16 no longer exist. Line 10 used to connect Savski most and Borongaj via Glavni kolodvor, but it was discontinued in the early 1980s, when a reorganisation of lines, which reintroduced line 1, made it impossible to have a line number 10, due to shift numbering, which would make lines 1 and 10 overlap. Line 16 used to connect Črnomerec and Zapruđe, but it was discontinued in 1991, due to a shortage of drivers when the Croatian war of independence started.

Line 15 is a specific exception:since it was opened in the 1960s, the line is closer to a light rail line than an actual tram line. It runs for approx. 3 km from Mihaljevac to Dolje. The line runs on a completely segregated right of way. A special type of catenary was developed for the line, which allows trams to reach speeds of 60kmh. Thus, the line from Mihaljevac to Dolje is the fastest and the shortest line in the entire tram network.

The network of daytime tram lines in 2009 (Line 5 has since been extended to Maksimir and Kapelska and Hanuševa stops were removed)

Night-time lines

Night-time lines are often substituted by buses due to track maintenance and repairs.

Rolling stock

ZET rolling stock is very diverse. It currently includes around 240 motor units of 8 different tram types (as of September 2005). On a normal work day there are over 190 units in use. The tram types ĐĐ TMK 101, ĐĐ TMK 201, ČKD T4 and ČKD KT4 have been same as in Belgrade.

Most of the stock today consists of TMK 2200, a total of 140 units acquired since 2003. The next most common vehicle types are made by ČKD-Tatra, comprising a total of 95 units of T4YU with 85 matching B4YU trailers, and 51 units of the articulated KT4YU. T4YU vehicles entered service between 1977 and 1983, and KT4YU followed around 1985.

The oldest units still in service are TMK 201, built in 1973 and 1974 by Đuro Đaković. ZET used to have a total of 30 TMK-201 units with 32 trailers, of which 18 remain in use, as some were scrapped and their bodies reused in the production of TMK 2100s. TMK-201 are similarly designed, but technically significantly different from the older TMK 101, retired in 2008. ZET also has the only unit of an articulated ĐĐ prototype tram produced in 1990.

In 1994 Končar built the prototype of the articulated TMK 2100 tram, which was later produced from 1997 to 2003. A total of 16 units were built including the prototype, and some remain in service. Also, from 1994 to 1998 ZET bought 35 used Düwag GT6 trams (5 of them are GT6 "type Mannheim") from Mannheim, Germany, and started to retire old type 101 trams. They were brought as a temporary solution, as the lack of funds prevented the buying of new vehicles. Many of them have since been replaced by TMK 2200 and scrapped, and the rest is out of service.

In 2003 ZET ordered 70 new 100% low-floor trams from Crotram, a consortium led by Končar. In May 2005 the prototype was delivered. It has air-conditioning, cameras outside (instead of rear view mirrors) and inside; its maximum speed is limited to 70 km/h. This type is designated as TMK 2200 (Tramvajska Motorna Kola) by Crotram, although the designation NT 2200 (Niskopodni Tramvaj) is used by ZET. The last tram of the original order was delivered in May 2007, and on June 7 Zagreb organised a tram parade where all 70 TMK 2200 trams drove in a snake through the streets of Zagreb.

In 2007 Zagreb city holding also bought 19 VW Polo and 4 VW Crafter cars for mobile servicing of rolling stock.

In July 2007 a contract for an additional 70 TMK 2200 vehicles was signed.^[4] On December 27, 2007, the 71st tram, the first from the second series was displayed. It has redesigned seat layout and wider passages.^[5] On January 26, 2009, the 100th low floor tramcar entered service.^[6] The last car from the second order entered service on June 30, 2010.

ZET also keeps two museum units of M-24 trams (built by ZET workshops), one with a "Košak" trailer (also built by ZET), and the other with "Pagoda" trailer, which was formerly 1910 motor car made by Ganz Budapest.

Gallery

Trams
ĐĐ TMK 201, 30 units built 1973-4 by Đuro Đaković  ČKD Tatra T4YU, Type 401, 95 units built 1976-82  ČKD Tatra KT4YU, Type 301, 51 units built 1985-6  Končar TMK 2100, 16 units built 1994 by Končar and TŽV Gredelj  TMK 2200, 140 units built 2005-12 by Crotram  TMK 2200 K, type 2300, approximately 60 on order

Trailers
TP 591, trailer for TMK 101 or TMK 201  TP 701, trailer for TMK 101 or TMK 201  TP 801 (manufacturers code "B4YU", trailer for Tatra T4

See also

• Trams in Osijek

References

External links

Media related to Trams in Zagreb at Wikimedia Commons

• ZET – official webpage (in English)