As temperatures rise, travelling by tram can quickly become an uncomfortable experience in the heat. In Prague, a new symbol on digital displays now indicates which vehicles are air-conditioned.
With rising temperatures, Prague’s public transport system (DPP) is expanding its passenger information services. Since Thursday, a snowflake symbol on the digital display boards at tram stops has been indicating air-conditioned vehicles.
“No, this is not a sign of another Arctic cold snap – quite the opposite. We have now added what is probably the most important piece of summer information to the display boards at tram stops: a snowflake symbol indicating which arriving trams are equipped with air conditioning,” DPP said in a social media post on 1 May.
Foto: PID – mobilita budoucnosti
According to DPP, the new symbol will now appear directly alongside departure information on the digital displays. Passengers can therefore already see at the stop whether the approaching tram is equipped with air conditioning.
A total of 127 air-conditioned trams are currently in operation. The air conditioning systems are generally activated once the outside temperature reaches 22 degrees Celsius.
More and more air-conditioned vehicles operating across Prague’s public transport network
Incidentally, the drivers do not control the air conditioning systems themselves – they are activated automatically. The 15T trams can be recognised by their yellow front section when equipped with air conditioning. More vehicles of this type are also expected to be retrofitted in the future; a supplier is currently being sought for the project. The newest 52T trams, meanwhile, already come equipped with air conditioning as standard. In addition to the trams, more than 60 per cent of buses in Prague’s public transport system are now fitted with air conditioning, according to the transport company. All trolleybuses are also equipped accordingly.
