Illustrative stock photo (source: TASR )
The long-awaited reconstruction of the tram track from the city centre to the boroughs of Karlova Ves and Dúbravka will alter tram lines throughout the whole of Bratislava. The luxury of travelling across the whole city by one tram will become history for six months at least. The changes will become effective as of Saturday June 22.
“A tram will take you to the city centre, where you will take another tram to your final destination,” said Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo when introducing the new scheme.
The Bratislava city council is distributing a Slovak-English bulletin with the basic information about the change.
Reconstruction of the Karlova Ves and Dúbravka tram tracks
Tram lines from the city centre to Karlova Ves and Dúbravka transport more than 30,000 people daily and account for almost one quarter of all the tram lines in Bratislava. The poor technical condition of the tracks and a lack of modernisation has resulted in a €65 million refurbishment. It will take place in four phases.
During the first phase, trams on this route will run only from the city centre up to the Molecova tram stop as of Saturday, June 22. Trams going to Karlova Ves and Dúbravka will be replaced by X5 buses and buses on previously regular routes will run at shorter intervals.
New traffic diagram
The city took inspiration for the new tram traffic diagram from the underground traffic diagrams of foreign metropoles. There will be one tram line on each existing tram track from and to the city centre. Tram Nr. 1 will shuttle to Petržalka, Nr 3. to Rača, Nr. 4 to Zlaté Piesky and Nr. 9 to Ružinov. The tram track to Karlova Ves and Dúbravka will be served only as far as the Molecova tram stop with tram line X6 running along this shortened route.
The new traffic diagram (source: Courtesy of Bratislava city council)
Trams on these routes will run at 4-5 minute intervals during working days and 7-8 minute intervals during weekends. Travellers, who would like to continue from the city centre to their final destination will be able to change trams either at SNP Square or Kamenné Square. Bratislava city council and the city’s public transport company Dopravný Podnik Bratislavy (DPB) promise that passengers will not need to wait for more than 2.5 minutes on average for a tram to their final destination.
The Nr. 2 tram line, running between the main railway station and the station at Nové Mesto will be preserved, with trams arriving at 15-minute intervals. This traffic diagram will be effective until September.
Refurbishment of the tram tracks will also affect road traffic. All motor vehicles from Dúbravka heading to the city centre via Karlova Ves will have two lanes while traffic in the other direction will have one lane only.
During the first phase, the tram stops at Jurigovo Námestie square and Segnerova will be combined into one stop. The Molecova stop will be moved a bit so as to be safer for passengers. The end of the first phase is planned for September 27.
Next phases
During the second phase, the line towards Karlova Ves and Dúbravka that is in operation will be extended by five stops – up to the stop at Karlova Ves. The city council promises that it will be again possible to travel from Dúbravka to the city centre by tram before Christmas.
The remaining two phases of the tram track reconstruction will take place next year. These works will include reconstruction of tram tracks from the Kapucínska tram stop to the stop at Chatam Sofer and from the tunnel via Castle Hill up to the Molecova tram stop. Completion of the whole project is planned for September 11, 2020.
