Tram with registration number 1719, which served in the streets of Brno from 1990 to 2025, underwent a comprehensive reconstruction in the DPMB workshops. This included not only modification of the bodywork and interiors, but above all the installation of new technologies enabling operation on the railway.
“For our colleagues in the central workshops, this order was a great professional challenge. Converting a standard tram into a vehicle that meets the specific requirements for running on the track required enormous expertise and precision. We are pleased that a piece of Brno – our tram, will continue to serve as part of this innovative project and help find ways for the future of regional transport,” said Miloš Havránek, CEO of the Transport Company of the City of Brno.
The AŽD company bought the car from DPMB for one million crowns, while the rebuilding itself in the central workshops in Brno cost another 5.8 million crowns.
“The main change is the transformation of the low-floor middle section of the car into a technological background. Battery boxes, charging technology and air conditioning units for cooling systems are newly located here. The chassis are newly fitted with track hoops with the corresponding profile and the vehicle is retrofitted with railway elements such as specific headlights or horns that meet track requirements. Another important change was the modification of the wheels for track operation,” explained DPMB spokeswoman Hana Tomaštíková.
The blue and white car is decorated with the inscription Lenka – which is an abbreviation for the term light electric charging rail vehicle AŽD.
It can help maintain local tracks
“The aim of this project is to show that even a relatively simple and affordable vehicle can safely and reliably drive on railway and urban infrastructure after appropriate modifications. We want to create a so-called green test platform for verifying our new technologies. The experience of operating this train tram should open a debate on how to economically maintain traffic on local lines,” explained Zdeněk Chrdle, CEO of AŽD.
The vehicle on a tractor traveled from Brno to the Kopidlno – Dolní Bousov (so-called Kopidlnka) line, which AŽD owns and uses as a test site. She arrived at the dormitories on Thursday afternoon. Testing will take place here in the mode of a light battery vehicle. In addition to DPMB and AŽD, other Czech companies such as STARMON, EVC Group, Rail electronics, SKDTrade, VKV Praha, RADOM, MSV electronics and also students of the Faculty of Transport of the Czech Technical University participated in the project.
