Trams in Warsaw

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warsaw Trams
Tramwaje Warszawskie sp. z o.o. logo
Tramwaje Warszawskie sp. z o.o. logo
Pesa Swing tram on Poniatowski Bridge
Overview
Native nameTramwaje Warszawskie
LocaleWarsaw, Poland
Transit typetram
Number of lines25
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Warsaw Public Transport
Operation
Began operation11 December 1866
Operator(s)Tramwaje Warszawskie
Technical
System length125.3 km (77.9 mi)[1][note 1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
System map
A map of the Warsaw tram system (need to be updated (line construction animated map)
Map of Warsaw tramway network before 1945 (interactive version)
Horse tram on Marszałkowska Street, 1867
Electric tramway construction, Warsaw, Marszałkowska Street and Jerusalem Avenue intersection, 1907[2]
Electric trams on Marszałkowska Street, 1914
Restored type A, K and N trams running during a Night of Museums in 2021
Restored Konstal N tram car from the 1950s running on a special tourist line
Konstal 13N tram cars from the 1960s, retired in 2012

The Warsaw tram network is a 125.3-kilometre (77.9 mi)[1][note 1] tram system serving a third of Warsaw, Poland, and serving half the city's population.[3] It operates 726 cars,[4] and is the second-largest system in the country (after the Silesian system).[5] There are about 25 regular lines,[6] forming a part of the city's integrated public transport system organized by the Warsaw Transport Authority. Since 1994 the system is operated by the municipally-owned company Tramwaje Warszawskie sp. z.o.o.

History[edit]

Horse tram[edit]

The history of tram transport in Warsaw dates back to 1866 when a 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) long horse tram line was built to transport goods and passengers between the Vienna Railway Station and the Petersburg and Terespol railway stations across the Vistula River. This was in order to circumvent limitations imposed by Russian authorities, which prevented the construction of a railway bridge for strategic reasons. In 1880, a second line was constructed with the help of Belgian capital, this time intended as public transit within the city. The Belgian company quickly expanded its own lines, and in 1882 took over the line between the railway stations, which has lost most of its original purpose after a railway bridge was finally built in 1875. In 1899 the entire tram system, by then 30 kilometres (19 mi) of tracks with 234 tram cars and 654 horses operating 17 lines, was purchased by the city. By 1903, plans were drafted to convert the system to electric trams, which was done by 1908.

Interbellum[edit]

The development mostly stagnated for the next 10 years with only a few short stretches built. After World War I, the network developed rapidly handling increased traffic and extending to the outskirts of the city with the network reaching the length of 60 kilometres (37 mi) and 757 tram cars in 1939. In 1927, a privately owned light rail line called EKD (today Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa) was built, connecting several neighboring towns with the center of Warsaw using electric motor coaches similar to trams, only faster, larger and more massive, with frequent stops and tracks running along the streets in city; however the system was incompatible with the Warsaw trams as it used standard gauge tracks while the city network still used Russian gauge left from Russian times. In 1925, the company operating the Warsaw trams decided to construct an underground system. Preliminary boring started, but the work was suspended because of the Great Depression; the idea resurfaced in 1938, but was again buried with the outbreak of World War II.

Second half of the 20th century[edit]

The tram system remained operational, although gradually deteriorating, during most of the Nazi occupation until the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, after which all the infrastructure was systematically destroyed. After the war it was rebuilt relatively fast. As the system was practically built from scratch the occasion was used to convert it to standard gauge. During the 1950s and 1960s, the network was extended to newly built districts of soviet style panel houses and industrial plants and newer trams based on the design of Presidents' Conference Committee were introduced. Due to the city's lack of a metro system and restriction on car ownership, the tram system remained the backbone of Warsaw's transport system. In the 1960s, however, a political decision was made to increase the dependency on oil imported from Russia, while Polish coal was to be exported to Western Europe in exchange for hard currency; as a result, newly developed districts were connected with the city center by buses rather than trams, and some of the existing tracks were closed.

Present situation[edit]

After 1989, the tram system in Warsaw initially received little investment with a large part of the city's budget spent on the construction of the first Warsaw Metro line. However, since 2005, the situation has been changing with the purchase of new rolling stock, modernization of key tram lines, and deployment of a passenger information system. Plans also include extension of the network and an "intelligent" traffic management system which is to prioritize trams at traffic lights. In August 2008, a tender for delivery of 186 low-floor, air-conditioned trams was launched, allowing for a dramatic overhaul of the look of the tramway system.

In 2014 a first entirely new line since a quarter century was opened, connecting Tarchomin, a quickly growing remote residential district on the north-eastern outskirts of the city, with the existing tram network and the M1 metro line. The route is undergoing further expansion with the latest 1 km (0.6 mi) long segment finished in September 2021 after multiple delays.[7] Two more new lines are being planned: one with 4 km (2.5 mi) of new tracks to Gocław, and another almost 20 km (12 mi) to the southern suburb of Wilanów.[8] The construction of the tram route to Wilanów was launched in August 2022[9] and is set to be completed by early 2024. It is unclear when work will start on the line to Gocław.[10]

Rolling stock[edit]

Image Tram car type Low-floor Number of cars Description
Konstal 105Na

(1252+1251)

No 2 cars

(1 two- car set)

Produced in 1988 and reburfished in 2020.

The renovation carried out to restore the composition of elements characteristic of this particular one, e.g. Black lighting fixtures, painting with characteristic city crests on the sides or the typeface of rolling stock numbers used by Konstal. The wagon also has full glazing of the door. The car set is/was used on lines 15, 35, 36 and 78


Konstal 105Na No 275 cars

(132 two-car sets + 10 single cars + 1 retired car)

The most commonly used model in Warsaw. Produced from 1973 to 2001.

An evolution of the earlier Konstal 13N, the city's first modern tram, a copy of the PCC streetcar derived Czechoslovak Tatra T1 widely used throughout the Soviet Bloc. First cars were based on the electrical systems from the 13N placed in a lighter body, later ones had them replaced with more efficient ones.

Most commonly used in sets of two, however, single units also appear. Sets of three had been used in the past, but they were replaced by new low-floor trams.

Konstal 105N2k/2000 No 62 cars

(31 two-car sets)

105Na with a new front. Produced from 2000 to 2001.

Only used in sets of two.

HCP 123N No 30 cars (14 two-car sets + 2 single cars) Based on 105Na. Produced in 2007.
Konstal 112N partly 1 A single prototype Konstal 112N, partially low-floor, two-section articulated tram based on 105Na, built in 1995.
Konstal 116N/116Na partly 29 Vehicles feature three sections and a larger percentage of low-floor area (approx. 60%), designated 116N/116Na, produced between 1998 and 2000.
Pesa 120N Yes 15 Pesa 120N was the first tram in Warsaw with 100% of low floor. It was bought in 2007 to operate a modernized route in the city center.
Pesa Swing(120Na) Yes 180 In 2009 186 vehicles (120Na) were purchased to operate a planned new line and to replace some of the oldest trams.
Pesa Swing

(120NaDuo)

Yes 6 At the request of the city, the last 6 units were manufactured as bi-directional, designated 120NaDuo, to allow using them on a partially-built line with no balloon loop.
Pesa Jazz Duo (128N) Yes 50 In 2013 50 bi-directional trams of a new design were purchased from PESA to be delivered in 2014, planned to allow operating on possible new lines during their construction and sections of existing tracks during maintenance works that made balloon loop inaccessible.
PESA 134N Yes 30 Ordered in January 2014 from PESA in Bydgoszcz[11] They are used on less loaded lines. They were bought to replace old single cars from Konstal.
Hyundai Rotem 140N Yes 83 of 85 Bi-directional, articulated, five-section vehicles, ordered in June 2019, to be delivered by April 2023.
Hyundai Rotem 141N Yes 18 Unidirectional version of 140N, ordered in June 2019, to be delivered by April 2023.
  Hyundai Rotem 142N Yes 17 of 20 Short (three-section) version of 141N, ordered in June 2019, to be delivered by April 2023.
Total number of sets: 615
Percentage of low-floor sets: 63%
Konstal 105N2k/2000

Tram depots[edit]

Depot Address Year est. Lines
ZET R-1 Wola Młynarska 2 1903 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28
ZET R-2 Praga Kawęczyńska 16 1925 3, 6, 7, 9, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28
ZET R-3 Mokotów Woronicza 27 1955 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 25, 31, 33, 35
ZET R-4 Żoliborz Zgrupowania Kampinos 10 1963 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 35
ZET R-5 Annopol Inowłodzka planned 2024

Historic fleet[edit]

Sources:[12][13]

Image Model Tram car type Year of manufacture Fleet number
A Falkenried/MAN 1907 43
Lw Linke-Hoffman Werke 1925 541
[1] C Lilpop, Rau i Loewenstein 1925 257
K Gdańska Fabryka Wagonów [pl] 1940 403-1
Wspólnota Interesów w Katowicach [pl] 1940 445
[2] ? 1940 446
[3] N Konstal 1949 607
1951 734
[4] ND Sanocka Fabryka Wagonów 1951 1620
4N Konstal 1961 873
[5] 4ND 1960 1811
4Nj 1957 838
13N 1959 503
[6] 1967 407
[7] 1968 462
1969 795
1969 821+818
102N 1969 5
102Na 1971 42
105N 1975 1000, 1001
105Na 1988 1252+1251

Tickets[edit]

Warszawska Karta Miejska, city travel card

There is a single fare system for every mode of transportation. Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines and newsagents all over the city, as well as using a mobile app.[14]

Warsaw tram line 22 in 1940
Warsaw tram line 22 in 1940

Route list[edit]

This is a list of Warsaw Tramway lines. As of 2015, there were several track closures all over the tramway system, due to the construction of the second metro line. This list shows tram lines which are operating as of 30 October 2023 and the routes they operate on as of the same date.[6]

Route number Description Map
 1  (Żerań Wschodni) Annopol ↔ (Pl. Narutowicza) Banacha
Annopol – Rembielińska – Matki Teresy z Kalkuty – Odrowąża – rondo Żaba – Starzyńskiego – most Gdański – Słomińskiego – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – Okopowa – Towarowa – rondo Daszyńskiego – Towarowa – plac Zawiszy – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Grójecka – Banacha
 2  WinnicaMetro Młociny
Światowida – Kuklińskiego – most Skłodowskiej-Curie – Zgrupowania AK „Kampinos”
 3  AnnopolGocławek
Annopol – Rembielińska – Matki Teresy z Kalkuty – Odrowąża – rondo Żaba – 11 listopada – Targowa – plac Wileński – Targowa – Zamoyskiego – Grochowska
 4  WyścigiŻerań Wschodni
Puławska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Marszałkowskaplac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – rondo Dmowskiego – Marszałkowskaplac Bankowy – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – Jagiellońska – Ratuszowa – Targowa – 11 Listopada – rondo Żaba – Odrowąża – Matki Teresy z Kalkuty – Rembielińska – Annopol
 6  GocławekMetro Młociny
Grochowska – Zamoyskiego – Targowa – plac Wileński – Targowa – Ratuszowa – Jagiellońska – Starzyńskiego – most Gdański – Słomińskiego – Międzyparkowa – Andersa – Mickiewicza – plac Inwalidów – Mickiewicza – plac Wilsona – Słowackiego – Marymoncka – Zgrupowania AK „Kampinos”
 7  Kawęczyńska-BazylikaP+R Aleja Krakowska
Kawęczyńska – Kijowska – Targowa – aleja Zieleniecka – aleja Poniatowskiego – most PoniatowskiegoAleje Jerozolimskie – rondo Dmowskiego – Aleje Jerozolimskieplac Zawiszy – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Grójecka – aleja Krakowska
 9  Gocławek ↔ (Wiatraczna) ↔ P+R Aleja Krakowska (Pl. Narutowicza)
Grochowska – aleja Waszyngtona – aleja Poniatowskiego – most PoniatowskiegoAleje Jerozolimskie – rondo Dmowskiego – Aleje Jerozolimskieplac Zawiszy – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Grójecka – aleja Krakowska
 10  PKP Wola (Wolska)Wyścigi

Powstańców Śląskich – Połczyńska – Wolska – Skierniewicka– Kasprzaka – Prosta – aleja Jana Pawła II – Chałubińskiego – aleja Niepodległości – Nowowiejska – plac Politechniki – Nowowiejska – plac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska

 11  Rondo Daszyńskiego ↔ Nowe Bemowo
Rondo Daszyńskiego – Prosta – Kasprzaka – Skierniewicka – Wolska – Połczyńska – Powstańców Śląskich – al. Reymonta – Broniewskiego

 LINE SUSPENDED 

 13  Kawęczyńska-BazylikaCmentarz Wolski
Kawęczyńska – Kijowska – Targowa – plac Wileński – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – Wolska

 LINE SUSPENDED 

 14  BanachaMetro Wilanowska
Banacha – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Filtrowa – Krzywickiego – Nowowiejska – plac Politechniki – Nowowiejska – plac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska

 LINE SUSPENDED 

 15  Marymont-PotokP+R Aleja Krakowska
Mickiewicza – plac Wilsona – Mickiewicza – plac Inwalidów – Mickiewicza – Andersa – Pl.BankowyMarszałkowska – rondo Dmowskiego – Marszałkowskaplac KonstytucjiMarszałkowskaplac Zbawiciela – Nowowiejska – plac Politechniki – Nowowiejska – Krzywickiego – Filtrowa – plac Narutowicza – Grójecka – aleja Krakowska
 17  Winnica (Metro Marymont)PKP Służewiec
Nowodwory - Światowida – Kuklińskiego – Most Skłodowskiej-Curie – Marymoncka – Słowackiego – Popiełuszki – aleja Jana Pawła II – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – rondo ONZ – aleja Jana Pawła II – Chałubińskiego – aleja Niepodległości – Rakowiecka – Boboli – Wołoska – Marynarska
 18  Żerań FSOPKP Służewiec
Jagiellońska – Starzyńskiego – most Gdański – Słomińskiego – Międzyparkowa – Andersa – Pl.BankowyMarszałkowska – rondo Dmowskiego – Marszałkowskaplac KonstytucjiMarszałkowskaplac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska – Woronicza – Wołoska – Marynarska
 20  BoernerowoŻerań FSO
Kaliskiego – Dywizjonu 303 – Obozowa – Młynarska – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – plac Wileński – Targowa – Ratuszowa – Jagiellońska
 22  WiatracznaPiaski
Grochowska – Zamoyskiego – aleja Zieleniecka – aleja Poniatowskiego – most PoniatowskiegoAleje Jerozolimskie – rondo Dmowskiego – Aleje Jerozolimskieplac Zawiszy – Towarowa – rondo Daszyńskiego – Towarowa – Okopowa – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Broniewskiego
 23  CzynszowaNowe Bemowo
Czynszowa – Stalowa (Stalowa – Środkowa – plac Wileński – Czynszowa) – 11 Listopada – Targowa – Ratuszowa – Jagiellońska – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – Młynarska – Obozowa – Dywizjonu 303 – Radiowa – Powstańców Śląskich
 24  GocławekNowe Bemowo
Grochowska – aleja Waszyngtona – aleja Poniatowskiego – most PoniatowskiegoAleje Jerozolimskie – rondo Dmowskiego – Aleje Jerozolimskieplac Zawiszy – Towarowa – rondo Daszyńskiego – Towarowa – Okopowa – aleja Solidarności – Młynarska – Obozowa – Dywizjonu 303 – Radiowa – Powstańców Śląskich
 25  AnnopolBanacha
Annopol – Rembielińska – Matki Teresy z Kalkuty – Odrowąża – rondo Żaba – 11 Listopada – Targowa – plac Wileński – Targowa – aleja Zieleniecka – aleja Poniatowskiego – most PoniatowskiegoAleje Jerozolimskie – rondo Dmowskiego – Aleje Jerozolimskieplac Zawiszy – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Grójecka – Banacha

 RIDE ONLY ON WORKDAYS 

 26  PKP Wola (Wolska)Wiatraczna
Młociny – Powstańców Śląskich – Połczyńska – Wolska – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – plac Wileński – Targowa – Zamoyskiego – Grochowska
 27  Cmentarz WolskiMetro Marymont
Wolska – aleja Solidarności – Okopowa – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Popiełuszki

 LINE SUSPENDED 

 28  Dw. Wschodni (Kijowska)Osiedle Górczewska
Kijowska – Targowa – plac Wileński – Targowa – Ratuszowa – Jagiellońska – Starzyńskiego – most Gdański – Słomińskiego – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Broniewskiego – Powstańców Śląskich – Radiowa – Dywizjonu 303
 31  Metro WierzbnoPKP Służewiec
Puławska – Woronicza – Wołoska – Marynarska
 33  KieleckaMetro Młociny
Rakowiecka – aleja Niepodległości – Chałubińskiego – aleja Jana Pawła II – rondo ONZ – aleja Jana Pawła II – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Broniewskiego – Wólczyńska – Nocznickiego
 35  PiaskiWyścigi

Broniewskiego – aleja Jana Pawła II – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Stawki – Andersa – Pl.BankowyMarszałkowska – rondo Dmowskiego – Marszałkowskaplac KonstytucjiMarszałkowskaplac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska

 36  Metro MarymontPl.Narutowicza
Filtrowa - Nowowiejska - Pl.Konstytucji - Marszałkowska - Pl.Bankowy - Andersa - Mickiewicza - Słowackiego

 LINE SUSPENDED 

 73  Metro MarymontKawęczyńska-Bazylika

Kawęczyńska – Kijowska – Targowa – plac Wileński – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – Okopowa – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Popiełuszki

 76  Metro Młociny (Nowe Bemowo)Fort Wola

Młociny – Powstańców Śląskich – Połczyńska

The standard headway is every 8 minutes during peak hours and every 12 minutes off-peak, but the trams on lines 1, 9, 17, 31, and 33 run every 4–6 minutes. Line 2 has the most frequent service with trams running every 2 minutes during peak hours.

Tram loops[edit]

Name Image Lines Info
Annopol  1   3      25 
Banacha  1   25   35 
Boernerowo  20 
Cmentarz Wolski  LOOP CLOSED 
Czynszowa  23 
Dworzec Wschodni

(Kijowska)

 28 
Gocławek  3   6   9   24 
Kawęczyńska

Bazylika

 7   73 
Kielecka  33 
Marymont-Potok  15 
Metro Marymont  17   36   73 
Metro Młociny  2   6   33   76 
Metro Wierzbno  31 
Nowe Bemowo  23   24   76 
Osiedle

Górczewska

 28 
P+R

Aleja Krakowska

 7   9   15 
Piaski  22   35 
PKP Służewiec  17   18   31 
Plac Narutowicza  1   9   36 
Wiatraczna  9   22   26 
Winnica  2   17 
Wyścigi  4   10 
Żerań FSO  18   20 
Żerań Wschodni  1   4 
Fort Wola  76   TEMPORARY LOOP 
PKP Wola (Wolska)  10   26   TEMPORARY LOOP 

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b The figure given in the source is 303 km (188 mi) of single track, it is assumed that the length of all routes (nearly all of them being double track) is about half that figure.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Infrastruktura torowa". Tramwaje Warszawskie. September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Warszawa w negliżu" (PDF). Świat. Vol. 2, no. 29. Warsaw: Tow. Akc. S. Orgelbranda Synów. 20 July 1907. p. 17 – via Mazovian Digital Library.
  3. ^ "Ultimate Warsaw Guide". Poland Travel Planner. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Stan inwentarzowy taboru - Tramwaje Warszawskie" [Rolling stock - Tramwaje Warszawskie]. Tramwaje Warszawskie. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Tramwaje Warszawskie Sp. z o. o. — O nas: Tabor tramwajowy". Tramwaje Warszawskie. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Timetables". Warsaw Public Transport. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Trasa do Winnicy gotowa". Warszawski Transport Publiczny.
  8. ^ "Warszawa: Niebawem przetarg na tramwaj do Wilanowa. Będzie fazowanie". transport-publiczny.pl.
  9. ^ "Przygotowania do budowy tramwaju do Wilanowa" [Preparations for building a tram to Wilanów]. transport-publiczny.pl (in Polish). 11 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Warszawa rezygnuje z dofinansowania dla tramwaju na Gocław. Powstanie później?". transport-publiczny.pl.
  11. ^ Barrow, Keith (2014-01-21). "Warsaw Tramways orders Pesa Jazz LRVs". International Railway Journal. International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2014-01-22. WARSAW Tramways signed a Zlotys 167.9m ($US 54.8m) contract with Pesa, Poland on January 15 for 30 type 134N Jazz low-floor LRVs, which will be used on lower-density routes in the city.
  12. ^ "Tramwaje". Klub Miłośników Komunikacji Miejskiej w Warszawie (in Polish). 31 December 1999. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Tram hire pricelist" (PDF). Tramwaje Warszawskie (in Polish).
  14. ^ "Ticket by mobile". Retrieved 2022-02-02.

External links[edit]