Skoda Group Wins Red Dot Award for Prague Tram 2025

Prague, Czech Republic – Škoda Group’s ForCity Plus 52T tram, developed for Prague’s public transport operator Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy (DPP), secured the Red Dot Award in the “Trains and Planes” product design category in 2025. The 32-metre, fully low-floor vehicle can carry up to 243 passengers and is the centrepiece of a contract for 40 firm orders with an option for 160 additional trams. This marks Škoda’s second consecutive Red Dot win, following the ForCity Smart tram for Bonn in 2024.

What Are the Technical Specifications?

The Škoda ForCity Plus 52T is a unidirectional, five-section, fully low-floor tram measuring approximately 32 metres in length and 2.5 metres in width. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors, wide inter-section passageways, and five double doors ensure rapid boarding and alighting. The interior includes modern LED lighting, eco-friendly climate control using an approved refrigerant, an advanced passenger information system with six large screens, and Wi‑Fi. A fully suspended pivoting bogie design and a modern traction control system aim to reduce track wear and provide a smooth ride. The tram also integrates a Škoda-developed collision avoidance system that fuses sensors, cameras and high-definition digital maps to detect obstacles in advance. Prague’s historic centre demands a vehicle that can navigate tight curves and steep gradients while maintaining high capacity, and the 52T was tailored specifically for these constraints.

Key Technical Data

Where Does This Technology Stand in the Market?

The 52T’s Red Dot award places it among a select group of European low-floor trams recognized for design-led passenger experience. Recent industry analysis indicates that passenger comfort, accessibility and digital integration are now primary drivers of tram procurement in Europe (Source: Global Railway Review, April 2025). Competitor platforms offer comparable capacity and low-floor access: Siemens’ Avenio M, deployed in Munich since 2024, carries up to 268 passengers in a 36-metre configuration (Source: Siemens Mobility, 2024), while Alstom’s Citadis X05 typically seats 60‑70 passengers with total capacities around 230‑250 in a 33‑metre format (Source: Alstom, 2024). Unlike those models, the 52T includes a factory-integrated collision avoidance system using fused sensor data and high-definition mapping — a feature aligning with the industry’s shift toward AI-assisted safety systems. Comparable award data for the “Trains and Planes” Red Dot sub-category is limited; Alstom’s Citadis Dualis received a Red Dot in 2019 for its adaptable low-floor design, but no tram from a Czech manufacturer had won this category before the 52T. The contract option for up to 200 units underpins a broader fleet renewal in Prague, where approximately 700 trams are in operation, many dating from the 1980s.

Editor’s Analysis

Back-to-back Red Dot awards position Škoda Group as a design-led manufacturer in a European tram market where aesthetic and functional integration increasingly influences tender decisions. By embedding a proprietary collision avoidance system into a vehicle tailored for Prague’s narrow historic streets, Škoda has aligned design recognition with safety technology — a factor that may shape future procurement criteria in Central European cities facing similar infrastructure constraints. With the Prague order potentially reaching 200 units, the 52T’s design language and digital features could become a reference for operators in cities such as Bratislava or Warsaw. As the Global Railway Review reported in April 2025, the confluence of digitalization and passenger-centric design is reshaping fleet renewal strategies continent‑wide.

FAQ

Q: How many passengers can the Škoda ForCity Plus 52T tram carry?
A: The tram can carry up to 243 passengers, with 70 seated places and a fully low-floor interior suited for wheelchair users, prams and bulky luggage.

Q: When will the new trams enter service in Prague?
A: The delivery timeline for the initial 40 trams has not been officially disclosed by DPP or Škoda Group. The contract includes an option for up to 160 additional vehicles, but no phased delivery schedule has been published.

Q: What is the value of the contract between Škoda and DPP?
A: The total contract value for the 40 firm trams and the optional 160 units has not been publicly disclosed by either party.