Trams in Warsaw explained

Trams in Warsaw
Imagesize2:275px
Native Name:Tramwaje Warszawskie
Locale:Warsaw, Poland
Transit Type:tram
Lines:25
Began Operation:11 December 1866
Operator:Tramwaje Warszawskie
System Length:125.3abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Map State:show
Website:

The Warsaw tram network is a 125.3adj=onNaNadj=on[1] [2] 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

Horse tram

The history of tram transport in Warsaw dates back to 1866 when a 6km (04miles) 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 had lost most of its original purpose after a railway bridge was finally built in 1875. In 1899 the entire tram system, by then 30km (20miles) 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

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 60km (40miles) 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

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

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 long segment finished in September 2021 after multiple delays.[7] Two more new lines are being planned: one with of new tracks to Gocław, and another almost 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

ImageTram car typeLow-floorNumber of carsDescription
Konstal 105Na (1252+1251)2 cars (1 two-car set)Produced in 1988 and refurbished 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 lines15, 35, 36 and 78

Konstal 105Na275 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/200062 cars(31 two-car sets)105Na with a new front. Produced from 2000 to 2001.Only used in sets of two.
HCP 123N30 cars (14 two-car sets + 2 single cars)Based on 105Na. Produced in 2007.
Konstal 112N1A single prototype Konstal 112N, partially low-floor, two-section articulated tram based on 105Na, built in 1995.
Konstal 116N/116Na29Vehicles feature three sections and a larger percentage of low-floor area (approx. 60%), designated 116N/116Na, produced between 1998 and 2000.
Pesa 120N15Pesa 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)180In 2009 186 vehicles (120Na) were purchased to operate a planned new line and to replace some of the oldest trams.
Pesa Swing (120NaDuo)6At 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)50In 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 134N30Ordered 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 140N85Bi-directional, articulated, five-section vehicles, ordered in June 2019, to be delivered by April 2023.
Hyundai Rotem 141N18Unidirectional version of 140N, ordered in June 2019, to be delivered by April 2023.
Hyundai Rotem 142N20Short (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%

Tram depots

DepotAddressPhotoYear est.Lines
ZET R-1 WolaMłynarska 2100px19039, 10, 11, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28
ZET R-2 PragaKawęczyńska 16100px19253, 6, 7, 9, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28
ZET R-3 MokotówWoronicza 27100px19551, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 25, 31, 33, 35
ZET R-4 ŻoliborzZgrupowania Kampinos 10100px19631, 2, 4, 6, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 35
ZET R-5 AnnopolInowłodzkaplanned 2024

Historic fleet

Sources:[12] [13]

ImageModelTram car typeYear of manufactureFleet number
AFalkenried/MAN190743
LwLinke-Hoffman Werke1925541
https://tw.waw.pl/2015/10/29/wagon-c-2/CLilpop, Rau i Loewenstein1925257
K1940403-1
1940445
http://phototrans.pl/14,1087463,0,WIwK_GFW_K_446.html?1940446
http://kmkm.waw.pl/index.php/tabor-zabytkowy/tramwaje/120-n-607NKonstal1949607
1951734
https://kmkm.waw.pl/nd-1620/NDSanocka Fabryka Wagonów19511620
4NKonstal1961873
https://kmkm.waw.pl/4nd-1811/4ND19601811
4Nj1957838
13N1959503
https://kmkm.waw.pl/13n-407/1967407
http://www.wgkm.waw.pl/galeria/displayimage.php?pid=100071968462
1969795
1969821+818
102N19695
102Na197142
105N19751000, 1001
105Na19881252+1251

Tickets

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]

Route list

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 operating as of 30 October 2023 and the routes they operate on as of the same date.

Route numberDescriptionMap
(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
WinnicaMetro Młociny
Światowida – Kuklińskiego – most Skłodowskiej-Curie – Zgrupowania AK „Kampinos”
AnnopolGocławek
Annopol – Rembielińska – Matki Teresy z Kalkuty – Odrowąża – rondo Żaba – 11 listopada – Targowa – plac Wileński – Targowa – Zamoyskiego – Grochowska
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
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”
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
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
Osiedle GórczewskaWyścigiGórczewska - Powstańców Śląskich – Połczyńska – Wolska – Kasprzaka – Prosta – aleja Jana Pawła II – Chałubińskiego – aleja Niepodległości – Nowowiejska – plac Politechniki – Nowowiejska – plac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska
Sielce ↔ Cmentarz Wolski (Nowe Bemowo)
Gagarina – Spacerowa – Goworka – Puławska – Marszałkowska – Nowowiejska – aleja Niepodległości – Chałubińskiego – aleja Jana Pawła II – Prosta – Kasprzaka – Wolska
Kawęczyńska-BazylikaCmentarz Wolski
Kawęczyńska – Kijowska – Targowa – plac Wileński – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – Wolska
BanachaMetro Wilanowska
Banacha – Grójecka – plac Narutowicza – Filtrowa – Krzywickiego – Nowowiejska – plac Politechniki – Nowowiejska – plac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska
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
Winnica (Metro Marymont)(Tarchomin)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
Żerań FSOPKP Służewiec
Jagiellońska – Starzyńskiego – most Gdański – Słomińskiego – Międzyparkowa – Andersa – Pl.BankowyMarszałkowska – rondo Dmowskiego – Marszałkowskaplac KonstytucjiMarszałkowskaplac ZbawicielaMarszałkowska – plac Unii Lubelskiej – Puławska – Woronicza – Wołoska – Marynarska
BoernerowoŻerań FSO
Kaliskiego – Dywizjonu 303 – Obozowa – Młynarska – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – plac Wileński – Targowa – Ratuszowa – Jagiellońska
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
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
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
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
Metro MłocinyWiatraczna
Młociny – Powstańców Śląskich – Połczyńska – Wolska – aleja Solidarności – most Śląsko-Dąbrowski – aleja Solidarności – plac Wileński – Targowa – Zamoyskiego – Grochowska
Cmentarz WolskiMetro Marymont
Wolska – aleja Solidarności – Okopowa – rondo Zgrupowania AK „Radosław” – aleja Jana Pawła II – Popiełuszki
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
Metro WierzbnoPKP Służewiec
Puławska – Woronicza – Wołoska – Marynarska
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
PiaskiWyścigiBroniewskiego – 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
Metro MarymontPl.Narutowicza
Filtrowa - Nowowiejska - Pl.Konstytucji - Marszałkowska - Pl.Bankowy - Andersa - Mickiewicza - Słowackiego
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

!Name!Image!date of opening!Lines
Annopol1971
Banacha1959
Boernerowo1933
Cmentarz Wolski1924
Czynszowa1958
Dworzec Wschodni (Kijowska)
Warszawa Wschodnia railway station
1866
Gocławek1925
Kawęczyńska Bazylika1925
Kielecka1927
Marymont-Potok1961
Metro Marymont
Marymont metro station
1935
Metro Młociny
Młociny metro station
1957
Metro Wierzbno
Wierzbno metro station
2006
Nowe Bemowo1997
Osiedle Górczewska1992
P+R Aleja Krakowska1971
Piaski1968
PKP Służewiec
Warszawa Służewiec railway station
1961
Plac Narutowicza1921
Sielce2024
Tarchomin Kościelny2014
Wiatraczna1949
Winnica2021
Wyścigi1938
Żerań FSO1953
Żerań Wschodni1952

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Infrastruktura torowa . September 2018 . Tramwaje Warszawskie . 17 September 2021 .
  2. The figure given in the source is of single track, it is assumed that the length of all routes (nearly all of them being double track) is about half that figure.
  3. Web site: Ultimate Warsaw Guide . Poland Travel Planner . 4 April 2019 . 4 April 2019.
  4. Web site: Stan inwentarzowy taboru - Tramwaje Warszawskie . Rolling stock - Tramwaje Warszawskie . Tramwaje Warszawskie . 23 September 2020 . 17 September 2021 .
  5. Web site: Tramwaje Warszawskie Sp. z o. o. — O nas: Tabor tramwajowy . Tramwaje Warszawskie . 2013-05-19 . dead . https://archive.today/20120913065923/http://www.tw.waw.pl/node/17 . 2012-09-13 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Timetables . Warsaw Public Transport . 17 September 2021 .
  7. Web site: Trasa do Winnicy gotowa . Warszawski Transport Publiczny.
  8. Web site: Warszawa: Niebawem przetarg na tramwaj do Wilanowa. Będzie fazowanie . transport-publiczny.pl.
  9. Web site: Przygotowania do budowy tramwaju do Wilanowa . 11 August 2022 . transport-publiczny.pl . Preparations for building a tram to Wilanów . pl.
  10. Web site: Warszawa rezygnuje z dofinansowania dla tramwaju na Gocław. Powstanie później? . transport-publiczny.pl.
  11. News: Keith . Barrow . Warsaw Tramways orders Pesa Jazz LRVs . 2014-01-21 . International Railway Journal . International Railway Journal . 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. Web site: Tramwaje. Klub Miłośników Komunikacji Miejskiej w Warszawie. 31 December 1999. pl. 2018-01-23. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Tram hire pricelist . Tramwaje Warszawskie . pl .
  14. Web site: Ticket by mobile. 2022-02-02. en-GB.