Czech Republic: The presentation of the 58.7 m six-car bi-directional ForCity Smart 38T, the first one from serial production, took place at the manufacturer’s plant in Pilsen.
In the coming months, the vehicle is expected to receive approval for commercial operation. The prototype of the tram has been undergoing tests in Ludwigshafen, Germany, since autumn 2024. The previous record-holder was CAF’s nine-car Urbos tram for Budapest with a length of 55.9 m.
With a capacity of 368 passengers, including 156 seats, the 38T tram is designed for a 1,000 mm track gauge. A contract with the German operator RNV, which is in charge of public transport in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, provides for the delivery of 12 such vehicles by this autumn. Another 68 shorter LRVs, the 36T of 30.5 m and the 37T of 40.7 m, are also due to be delivered as part of this order. The trams are based on the Artic platform with their bodies produced in Finland before final assembly at the Pilsen plant. One 38T tram requires 18 weeks to be manufactured.
