Christmas tram (source: Courtesy of DPB)
The Christmas tram has resumed service in Bratislava on the day of St Nicolaus, December 6. Citizens and visitors of the capital can use it for free until December 30, except for December 24 and 25. Last year it was decorated like a gingerbread house and this year it has taken on the look of the nativity scene, Adriana Volfová, spokesperson for the municipal transport company Dopravný Podnik Bratislavy (DPB) informed the TASR newswire.
In the rear of the tram there is the nativity scene with figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother, Mary, and her husband, Joseph as well as angels, shepherds, animals and the three wise men. The nativity scene is a symbol of Christmas in Slovakia and is called Bethlehem.
The general interior is in a Christmas style and rides will be enlivened by carols while a professional tram conductor will mark a special Christmas tram ticket for children.
Christmas tram route map. (source: Courtesy of DPB)
The route starts at the seasonally decorated tram stop at the Slovak National Theatre (SND) and then goes via SNP Square, the tunnel, SNP Bridge and back to the SND.
The tram rides, lasting for 30 minutes at a time, are scheduled between 16:00 and 20:00 during working days and between 10:00 and 20:00 during weekends.
In total, seven DPB employees worked to decorate the tram which has been used since 1991. Apart from other materials they used 30 strings of small lights at a total length of 672 metres with 2,680 bulbs.
