Public transport

If yes, you may be interested in the plain fact the Prague City Transport company keeps your number for 10 years. Apart from this curious fact, the SMS tickets became a serious business, which sells 22 000 a day. That, yearly, brings the Prague Transport Company profits of about 200 millions czk.

The SMS are kept for the case travellers would argue with controllers, that they bought the ticket. That doesn’t explain, why to keep the numbers for 10 years, but it makes sense. It is presented like a price for more comfortable buying.

The Office for personal data logically disapproves the doings – according to it piling up telephone numbers of people who didn’t give agreement to it is not kosher and started to investigate it already.

Why to demonstrate? The deputies of union of Prague Public transport company don’t like the state-owned company doesn’t reflect increasing prices of goods and services on salaries. They decided to show their dissatisfaction by blocking Jecna street, which is a very centre-located expressway, where about 60 000 cars pass daily. They used packs of straw for stopping the traffic from 1 to 2 pm yesterday.

The strike of drivers included tramways stopping at the station, but the Prague Public transport company was prepared for it; they had back-up drivers prepared and just replaced those who didn’t wanted to continue, so in the end only seven tramways stopped, or they moved dead slow. The bus drivers were more successful, as about 200 buses stopped at stations.

Taxi drivers also joined the strike, but compared to the state transport company workers they caused not just dismay, but also disgust. They demanded cancellation of limits for charges, so they could go deeper into being an abomination. They blocked the road to the Airport and refused to take customers in. Hopefully, their demands won’t be listened to, prior to helping those who need it – the state employees who really have something to complain about.

Since Thursday 8th May 2008, at about 4pm, the first metro with passangers will stop at the brand new stations on the Metro trace C, going to Letnany. The trains will go in shorter intervals than now, that means every 115 seconds compared to present two minutes. Some bus lines will be abandoned.

The new trace on C involves three new stations – Strizkov, Prosek and Letnany. Every one of them has its original design made by the architect Patrik Kotas. To make the new 4,6 kilometre long track cost 15,5 billion czk (620 mil €) and it will make travelling to and from the suburbs easier.

If you go to Prague very old centre, you know the situation – you want to make a picture of some sight, but than you hear a car horn and realize you stand in a street. Those of us who are used to other western-type cities of Europe, expect to walk or ride a bike freely in the old part of a city. The reason why it is not so in Prague is lack of by-passes, but this will soon change. At least according to Prague councilman Karel Kozeluh.

“We have studies ready for widening the footways for the next year already.” About 10 streets should be changed to footways in Vienna style – the street will be limited to two narrow lines, lifted to the level with the pavement. This will happen at the bottom of Wenceslas Square, as well as below the Central railway station.

What we, who prefer to walk or take a tram, should really look forward, is when the tunnel circuit below Strahov will be finished (2011) – the whole area by the river from the National Theatre to Rudolfinum will become a boulevard.

The Prague Public Transport company introduced a new web, which joins a lot of information which we previously had to look for on various others websites. The web www.dpp.cz has practically everything, one could need when travelling in the metropolis.

They have various information about transport – whether there are free spots at parking lots, information about fares, useful links, it is possible to take a look into camera system mapping traffic situation, temperature and speed of wind and also ‘Fun and Leisure’ section, providing info about Nostalgic lines, Cool tour lines, Transport to Zoo or beautiful Photo Gallery with new and historic pictures.

So, if you want to get from A to B in Prague for cheap, you know where to go to find your connections.

The new type of Prague Tramways, made by Skoda, have revealed its looks two weeks ago. Now, Skoda Holding have revealed new photographs of the T15 model series.

Test rides have started already, but the first time we will be able to ride in one of these will be probably next year. One T15 Tram costs 66 mil czk (2,5 mil €)

The tram is made by three joined units, which create space for up to 300 passengers. It is barrier-free. The limit for maximal speed is 60km/h, its interior is air-conditioned.

Passengers can vote on www.skoda.cz, which interior design they like the most. The one with comfy, fabric chairs, or the wooden, durable anti-vandalism version.

Pictures by Skoda Holding. Click for enlargement.

Construction of the Metro line C extension is progressing further to the northeast to connect the city center to the large housing blocks in Prosek.

The new track will be 4,6 km long. There will be three more stations (Strizkov, Prosek and Letnany) they are planned to open in May 2008.

Expenses are about 15,5 billions czk, the three stations take care of an area inhabited by 50 000 people.

The whole world 20th March 1995 watched the news in shock. Tokyo underground passengers were attacked by sarine gas by a religious cult Óm Shincrio. Back then, the gas killed twelve people and health of 54 was severely damaged. Over a thousand of passengers ended in hospitals.

Since then, Prague underground worked on security system. In one year, the Prague Metro should become the best protected underground in the world. Devices installed should identify slightest leak of dangerous chemical substances and immediately warn police and Metro security.

Anyway the magistrate doesn’t want to reveal details of security system, as it is a matter of classified information. The public in Prague mostly doesn’t even know there has been security system being developed for ten years.

The sms ticket project has been working in Prague for just four months, but there are already debates, whether this way of selling will replace traditional paper tickets. What is for sure, the number of passengers travelling with sms tickets will grow steadily on, also because similar projects are planed to be realized by other larger cities in the republic.

The speaker of Prague Public Transport company (MHD) states: “sms ticket has really caught on in Prague. In average, 20 thousand travelers use it everyday.” The total of sold tickets is about 270 thousand. Which means – every 13th ticket in Prague is bought by a mobile phone.

The newcomer to the Prague family of tramways finally has its picture on the net. Made by Skoda, T15 should be a combination of highly effective design, performance and durability.

The difference from the older T14 would be design of this series was made by a Czech, not by Porsche like the last one. His name is Patrik Kotas, and neither he, nor Skoda want to talk about the model, before it will be officially introduced.

Prague has ordered 250 units. First T15 should get to Prague in 2009. Skoda deputies stated development cost over half billion czk. Lifespan of T15 should be 15 years longer than those of 1960’s (which have been in function for almost 50 years) and has 40% lower energy consumption.

During this weekend, the new tickets will be introduced at all common distributors. According to the MHD Prague Public Transport company they will be much safer, as they include more safety elements than the older travel vouchers. A controllers will recognize fakes much easier.

According to its speaker, the MHD doesn’t have much problems with counterfeiters, but they want to be up-to-date, according to modern standards.

The biggest change is in the color, which is green, with a color line according to the price. The pictures we provide are cut in half, if you want to see the whole design, check it here. If you want some information about SMS tickets in Prague, go here.

The new way of Prague Public Transport payments via mobile phone, the SMS Tickets, are getting popular – 15 thousands people buy it every day.

Prague Public Transport company (MHD) introduced it, because they hoped for reduction of people, who involuntarily battle the rattler, because they can’t buy a regular ticket anywhere. And, according to recent study, it works.

Westminster company asked 500 respondents, and from them 15-21 % sometimes do not pay for their ride in the public transport, but 9 from 10 of them think SMS tickets changed the situation, as they started using it. The MHD sees the success of SMS tickets in their good information campaign, and easy use.

Experts support the idea of coming back to turnstiles. There used to be until 1980’s, now it works on the basis of trust- the passengers buy a ticket, and validate it at the validating machines before entering the metro. If a passenger has or hasn’t a ticket is controlled by a special unit, that can fine those who avoid paying.

This trust-based system is, according to recent studies, ineffective, as 5-10% Czech passengers regularly don’t pay in public transport. In total it makes 1,5 billion CZK (57 mil. €) loses a year.

The Prague Public Transport company published a report, stating the controllers collected over 100 mil. CZK in fines last year, and that is just a fraction of those who do the ‘black rides’ as Czechs call rides for free.

About 140 controllers travel in Prague Public transport, checking whether the passengers have a valid ticket with them. Those who didn’t have one in 2007, paid total over one hundred million CZK (3,6 mil. €) in fares. Every controller so collected 1 688 fines on the average. 230 000 people tried a free-ride, or as Czechs say, jet nacerno (black ride).

What makes problems for tourists, is the difference between transferable/non-transferable tickets in Prague. Also, some don’t know the non-transferable ticket (the one that costs 18 CZK) can be used for 5 stations only.

The statistics show, that the percentage of passengers who don’t pay for tickets is about 10-20 %. Most of them are 15-25 years old. The MHD (Prague Public Transport Company) tries to help those, who are travelling for free unwillingly, by instituting the possibility of SMS tickets.

Christmas time comes, and no one feels the spirit of Christmas like pickpockets do. So many people carrying heavy bags, wallets filled with money, busy and lost in thought in Christmas shopping concentration… oh, pickpockets love Christmas.

Prague Public Transport company or the MHD learned a new strategy, probably during the executive board trip by the London public transport, how to make pickpockets’ living a bit harder during Christmas – there is a message coming out of speakers in Prague tramways, that warns us of pickpockets. But don’t worry! It’s in Czech only, so don’t get too disturbed or excited. Christmas is the time of sharing.

“The last Metro trains from the former USSR are going to disappear in two years” said the councilman Radovan Steindrer. There are no USSR trains on the line C and A, there are still some on the line B, which are going to retire. The MHD (Prague Public Transport) heads consider moving the trains from the line C to B, and putting very new walk-through metro trains there.

As Staindler stated, “ Prague Metro is going to part with the last train of Russian fabrication and I thing the parting won’t be a very nostalgic one.” The new trains will be made by Siemens which automatically offered the city the walk-through version.

The trend of walk-through metro is usual in most of the first-world countries, more than a half of new trains in the world undergrounds are build in such a way. This version offers more space for travelers, but offers also more danger in the case of fire.

Left: the old train from the USSR
Right: the new train made by the conglomerate CKD Praha, Adtranz and Siemens

Since today, it is possible to buy a Prague Public Transport ticket from your mobile phone. That’s it – you don’t need to buy a paper ticket.

So here are the steps: you text DPT on the number 902 06 20 and here you go – you have just bought yourself a transfer ticket worth 20 CZK, which is valid since the moment when you have sent the SMS.

The ticket inspectors of Prague are equipped with a gadget, that can check, if the SMS ticket is valid or not.

At the beginning of 2008 the service will be extended of other tickets and coupons, so this could be the end of waiting for a coupon in queue. This time MHD does something else for their customers than just marking the prizes up…

The Prague City Transport covers more kilometers than any other public company in Europe. Just for a comparison – tramways, buses and metros cover more than 160 millions kilometers. That is like four thousand times around the globe. In Amsterdam it is one quarter of such a distance.

The MHD also retains supremacy in the contest of: the number of transported passengers/the number of the population. It is the highest in Europe. MHD transports 3,3 millions every day. Only the public transport in Budapest is a competitor in figures, as they transport about 100 million/year more, but Budapest is also of a half a million more populated.

The year 2008 will be in token of more kilometers, like the new station of metro C Letnany, more trains, buses and tramways in action at the same time, more of the new tramways and more money, spend on tickets.

More expensive tickets are not the only innovation, planned for the next year. Earned money are to be used for shorter intervals of the underground or more frequent bus connections to Prague suburbs.

What will be the main upgrades of Prague public transportation?

• Underground intervals much shorter, all trains go the whole way
• 29 New tramways with Porsche design, 30 new tramways of secret design in 2008-2010
• New Metro (the underground) station in Letnany
• Electronic card system Opencard before long

The tickets will get more expensive in Prague. About how much?

Single ticket: 60mins (Mon-Fri) / 90mins (Sat-Sun)
Adults: 20czk 26czk Kids: 10czk 13czk

Single limited transfer ticket: 20mins on trams / 30mins in underground
Adults: 14 czk 18 czk Kids: 7czk 9czk

24 hour ticket
Adults: 80czk 100czk Kids: 40czk 50czk

Tickets are available to purchase at metro stations, newsagents and Prague tourist information offices.

The same tickets are valid for travel by underground, trams and buses. Tickets must be validated before travel by punching it in the orange machine, located at the top of Underground escalators on the metro or inside the trams and buses.

I want to know more about Prague Public Transport

Price increase of the Prague public transport fares takes place at the end of 2007. Transfer tickets, which MHD (Prague public transport company) originaly wanted to cost 30 CZK (1€) are going to cost 26 CZK, from present 20 CZK. It is a compromise variant, which was negotiated by Pavel Bem, the councilman for traffic and the leader of MHD.

Pavel Bem said the proposal was not acceptable for him and Prague City Hall, when it was announced. As Pavel Bem is a member of the ODS (Civic Democratic party) the opposition disclaimed Prague citizens won’t pay that much and rather use their cars.

Prices in the Czech Republic increase by the speed of light, but salaries… Read the Big Mac comparison