This DVD covers four tramway systems in Central Europe which are in three different countries, although the cities themselves are not that far from each other.

Part 1: Czestochowa, Poland

The tramway in this city was opened in 1959 although there were plans for tramways from the early 20th Century. There are 3 routes although line 1 to the steelworks is currently suspended. Lines 2 and 3 share the long North-South reserved track section splitting at Estakada stop. In 2022 two batches of Pesa Twist II trams delivered in 2012 and 2020 operate on lines 2 and 3.

Part 2: Olomouc, Czech Republic

At 16km this system is the smallest in the Czech Republic, there are seven routes, six of which terminate at Fibichova, the stop after the main railway station. There is quite a variety of rolling stock, the oldest being Tatra T3's dating from the 1980s. There are also T3's rebuilt and modernised by Pragiomax, a small number of Skoda and Inekon articulated trams plus new bogie trams from Pragiomax. Some of the Pragiomax trams are single ended but double sided, they are coupled back to back in pairs so that they can be driven from either end, useful for reversing where there is no turning circle.

Part 3: Ostrava, Czech Republic

Ostrava is a city known for heavy industry. Electric trams were introduced in 1901 replacing steam trams which had become uneconomic. Today there are sixteen routes in operation with quite a variety of rolling stock, there are Tatra T3's, Tatra KT8D5 articulated trams, Pragiomax Vario trams rebuilt from Tatra T3's, Skoda and Inekon articulated trams from 1998-2004, the newest low floor trams are Stadler Tangos new in 2018/19 and Skoda 39T ForCitys new 2021/22. There are also a number of heritage trams, some of which can be seen in action in this chapter. There are also seven trolleybus routes mostly covering areas of the city not served by trams, some of the trolleybuses can also be seen in this chapter.

Part 4: Magdeburg, Germany

Electric trams in Magdeburg started operation in 1899, very quickly replacing the horse and steam trams that had previously run in the city. The system has been expanded over the years and in 2022 ten routes were in operation. In 1969 the first Tatra trams entered service, today the mainstay of the tram fleet are the eighty-three trams of type NGT8D, initially built by Waggonbau Dessau, then by Waggonbau Bautzen which was taken over by Alstrom who built the final batch in 2012. Eleven of the NGT8D's are attached to ex-Berlin Tatra B6A2 trailers, and there are still a few Tatra T6A2 trams operated in coupled pairs. In 2020 Magdeburg bought eight Tatra KT4DM articulated trams from Berlin to expand the fleet, however, thirty-five Alstom Flexity trams are on order for 2023. There are a number of heritage trams kept in the former depot at Sudenburg, on of these No.124 can be seen in operation in this chapter.

Subtitles, no commentary, enjoy the sights and sounds of trams in Poland, Czech Republic and Germany.

Produced by - Bob Hodges Transport DVD's
Running time - 74 Minutes
Format - 16:9 Widescreen PAL (UK)
DVD only
Released - February 2023