First joint test run of the Petržalka tram

A big day for Bratislava’s largest transport project. Today the first test tram ran along the new tram line through the largest Slovak housing estate, Petržalka. Thus, the commitment of the capital’s leadership that this new approximately four-kilometre line connecting Bratislava on both banks of the Danube would be tried out with a test run before Christmas has been fulfilled. This will be followed by completion of the platforms, adjacent buildings and permit processes, so that full tram operation can be launched in the spring.

Construction of the new tram line in Petržalka is the largest and also an extremely important transport project for Bratislava, as it will fully connect the city on both banks of the Danube and make everyday life easier for tens of thousands of Bratislava residents. The project for the construction of the new tram line in Petržalka is gradually approaching its final stage. The tracks have been laid along the entire length of the line; the stops are getting their contours, as are the pavements and the new cycling path that lines the radial; stonecrop has been laid on an area of more than 5,000 m²; the anti-tank wall has been safely moved; the traction line is in place, and a few days ago the tracks of the original and newly built line behind the Jungmannova stop were welded. Both parts are now definitively connected and the long-awaited tram could set off on its first ever test run along the line to the turning point at Janíkov dvor and back.

“I am very much pleased that we were able to bring such a pre-Christmas gift to the people of Bratislava and especially the people of Petržalka. I would like to thank my colleagues, the contractor and the supply companies for the enormous effort they expended for this day. I would also like to thank the people of Petržalka for the great patience with which they have endured all the restrictions related to the construction of the Petržalka tram. After today’s major milestone, which is the first test run, finishing work will be done on the platforms, adjacent buildings and permit processes before the tram goes into regular operation with the travelling public in the spring. We are also happy, however, that we were able to fulfil our promise and, together with several passengers, experience the first test run before Christmas,” said Matúš Vallo, the Mayor of the capital city of Bratislava.

“We’re pleased that the Petržalka tram project has reached this important milestone, and I am looking forward to the first vehicle being able to make a test run along the new line. The expansion of the tram system means the successful fulfilment of our common vision of ecological and sustainable public transport. I would like to thank the capital city of Bratislava and the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic for their mutual cooperation. I believe that this successful cooperation will continue even further, because we have many projects prepared that will significantly improve urban public transport in Bratislava,” said Martin Rybanský, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dopravný podnik Bratislava.

Construction work on the Petržalka tram began in the fall of 2021, and during its realisation several problems had to be dealt with, ranging from complicated relationships in the original consortium, the COVID pandemic and a radical increase in energy and material prices due to the war in Ukraine to objective obstacles, such as the discovery of an illegal hazardous waste dump, the anti-tank wall or ammunition from World War II. Despite several complications, this important project was saved and work on it continued.

In order for the tram to make its first test run, along with a great many terrain modifications, it was necessary to install 233 traction poles, stretch 62 km of power cables and 10.5 km of overhead lines, lay 8 km of tracks and use up to 455 tons of steel reinforcement and 12,800 cubic metres of concrete for the slabs underneath.

The tram line in Petržalka will be green

During construction of the line, great emphasis has also been placed on greenery. In addition to more than 22,000 square metres of green stonecrop, which will cover the entire line except for crossings and bridges, up to 1,512 mature trees and 7,046 m² of shrubs will be planted near the line. And that's not all! As part of the replacement planting for the trees that had to be removed due to the construction of the line, an additional 725 trees and 4,108 m² of shrubs are already being planted around the line, for example, on the median strips on Kutlíkova or Dolnozemská ulica. The roofs of the shelters at stops along the entire line will also be covered in greenery.

The new tram also means a new cycling path, new crossings, and new bridges

Regarding other infrastructure, 6 kilometres of a new separate cycling path are being built alongside the new tram line. A section of it can already be seen near Bosákova ulica. This will thus create a safe cycling infrastructure across the entire Petržalka district to the city centre, which people will be able to use for commuting to work on a bicycle, as well as recreational cyclists and families with children.

In addition to the new cycling path, construction of the Petržalka tram also required the building of new crossings and the modification of old ones, since it intersects several roads. A fully new intersection is being built on the combined bridge on Rusovská ulica or on Pajštúnska ulica, which, together with Kutlíkova, will be “straightened” and expanded to 4 lanes. The intersections on Jantárová with Betliarská and Lietavská, Jasovská and Šintavská have also undergone modifications.

The project also includes four new bridges over the Chorvátske rameno canal. The first is the combined bridge on Rusovská ulica, which will carry the tram line, road traffic, cycling and a pedestrian walkway over the Chorvátske rameno canal. The second and longest bridge is the 110-metre bridge near the Parish Church of the Holy Family; it is designed for trams, and a cycling path and a pavement for pedestrians will also run along the sides. The next is a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists only under the bridge near the Parish Church of the Holy Family, and the last is the traffic bridge on Kutlíkova ulica, which is part of the straightening and widening of the streets Kutlíkova and Pajštúnska. Along with the new bridge structures, the existing bridge on Panónska ulica will also be altered, so that public transport buses can stop there. New ramps will also connect this bus stop with the new tram stop.

**So, what’s next? **

After completion of the first test run, the pavements, cycling path, shelters and stops will all be completed, as will what is not visible on the track – i.e. the processing of all necessary permits so that the tram to Petržalka can be in full operation in the spring of next year.