Prague opens a new tram line between Sídliště Modřany – Libuš districts

Recently, the Prague Transport Authority (Dopravní podnik hl.m. Prahy, DPP) opened a new tram line Sídliště Modřany – Libuš. Regular operations have already started at the end of May.

The opening ceremony was held in the presence of First Deputy Mayor of Transport Zdeněk Hřibo, Deputy Mayor of the Environment Jana Kummerskova and Mayor of Prague 12 Voych Kos (ODS). Every other connection Line 17 extends to Libuše.

Tramway to a large residential area

In the area of ​​Lhotka, Libuše, Kamýk and Modřany, a relatively large residential area has emerged since the 1970s, which is mainly served by buses to metro station C – Kačerov. After the Barrandov Bridge and metro line B were built in 1985, Lhotka and Modřany were also connected to Smíchov Station by buses.

In 1995, a tram line was opened for Mudani settlement, running from Nadrazi Branik. This construction clearly demonstrated that a direct tram connection to the city center is a profitable and heavily used proposition for commuters.

Already during the construction of the line to Modřany, it was contemplated to extend it by about 1.5 km to Libuše to serve the apartment buildings at the southern end of Novodvorská Street, thus creating an alternative source of one-way public transport. Originally scheduled for completion in 1996, this construction was ultimately delayed by more than a quarter of a century.

Plan renewal

The reasons for the delay were investment priorities in Prague and the intention to coordinate the construction of this line with the new metro line D. Thanks to the operational success of the tram trains in Modřany and the initiatives of the Prague-Libuš region, the construction plan for the extension of the tram line to Libuše was renewed before the construction of the metro line D in 2015.

The building received a valid building permit in July 2017 and a valid building permit approximately three and a half years later. Two months later, in April 2021, Prague Public Transport (DPP) issued a public tender for the contractor, with whom it signed a contract in December 2021 and the actual construction began on April 1, 2022. The line was completed and put into trial operation on May 26, 2023 and normal operations began on May 27, 2023.

Source: Prague Public Transport Company (DPP)