Enika Wins CZK 396M Contract to Retrofit 123 Prague Trams

Prague, Czech Republic – Dopravní podnik Praha (DPP) has awarded Polish company Enika from Łódź a framework contract worth CZK 396 million (approximately €16.5 million / PLN 70 million) to retrofit 123 Škoda 15T ForCity trams with air-conditioning systems. Installation will be carried out at MPK Łódź workshops, with at least 20 trams to be completed each year. The six-year agreement follows an October 2025 tender that attracted three bidders.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The contract includes 369 air-conditioning units — three per 31.4-metre tram — designed on Enika’s iGlacio platform under the project designation iGlacio 17AC/6AC. Each unit provides 17 kW cooling capacity and 6 kW heating capacity, and the systems operate through a dedicated control system with four modes: cooling, ventilation, ventilation with pre-heating, and temperature regulation. The operator requested dual capability so the units serve as ventilation and additional heating during cold seasons. Work is to be performed in Łódź, with approximately one tram transferred from Prague every two weeks.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

Comparable data for tram HVAC retrofit contracts was not publicly available at time of publication. As a scale reference, Alstom’s five-year operation and maintenance extension for the Metrolinx train fleet is valued at approximately €800 million (Source: RailwayPro, 2026), while the European Investment Bank allocated €900 million for Czech railway infrastructure modernisation in 2025 (Source: RailwayPro, 2026). DPP’s award is 8.3% below its original CZK 432 million estimate, equating to approximately CZK 3.22 million per tram or CZK 1.07 million per air-conditioning unit. In the same supplier segment, Knorr-Bremse sold its Merak HVAC unit to Opengate Capital in 2025, indicating restructuring pressure among European rail HVAC suppliers (Source: IndexBox, 2025).

Editor’s Analysis

The retrofit decision signals DPP’s strategy to extend the service life of its 2010-2019 Škoda 15T fleet instead of replacing vehicles, with passenger comfort upgrades becoming a precondition for competing with expanding regional rail and high-speed connections. Sending Prague trams to Łódź for specialised roof work highlights a Central European cross-border maintenance model, consistent with EIB technical support for Czech-Polish corridor development (Source: RailwayPro, 2026). This may open further rolling stock subsystem work to Polish suppliers.

FAQ

Q: How many Prague trams will receive air conditioning under this contract?
A: 123 Škoda 15T ForCity trams will be retrofitted, requiring 369 air-conditioning units in total, with three units per tram.

Q: What is the contract value and duration?
A: The framework is worth CZK 396 million (about €16.5 million) and runs for six years, with at least 20 trams fitted per year.

Q: When will passengers experience improved temperature control?
A: An exact start date for passenger service impact has not been officially confirmed. Once installation starts, one tram is expected to move from Prague to Łódź approximately every two weeks.