The Christmas Tram will again brighten up the most beautiful holidays of the year

The Bratislava Transport Company (DPB) will make the Advent and Christmas season more enjoyable for passengers for the thirteenth time. It has launched the extremely popular and traditionally decorated Christmas Tram which will run free of charge on a circular route in the city centre until Three Kings Day (6 January 2024).

The task of making Advent and the Christmas holidays more enjoyable was once again assigned to the K2G articulated tram (#7085). This season it is dressed in an imaginary Christmas knitted sweater in the most traditional colours - red and green. The pattern is complemented by knitted embellishments and patches with Bratislava landmarks. The design also includes Christmas tree branches, decorations and a snow-covered winter garden on the back of the tram. This is a unique place to take photographs. The decoration is emphasised by chains of lights that render the tram unmistakable in the streets.

"The Christmas Tram has become a city tradition and I think that many of us cannot imagine Christmas in Bratislava without it. This year's tram was dispatched by our Transport Company Bratislava onto the streets of Bratislava symbolically on St Nicholas Day, when the Christmas spirit can be felt literally everywhere you turn. I believe that the Christmas Tram will contribute to creating a true Christmas, which is also about nice experiences, memories and pleasant encounters. The Christmas Tram will certainly make travelling through the decorated streets of Bratislava more agreeable, and it is a great experience not only for parents with children, but for all those who take a ride on it," says Mayor Vallo.

"The magical Advent and Christmas season is one of the fondest childhood memories for many, but in adulthood it goes hand in hand with stress. That's why this year we are offering everyone a place to take a moment to slow down in the rush. We've styled the Christmas tram in traditional colours with decorations that I believe will evoke for many the cosy warmth of home. I would like to invite regular passengers and visitors to the city to our "Christmas Tram Lounge", where they can absorb the cosy atmosphere. Finally, I would like to thank our colleagues and STU students for preparing the tram in the form you can see on the streets," adds Martin Rybanský, DPB’s Chair of the Board

This year, students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Slovak University of Technology took part in the design and installation of the lighting and decorations, with DPB giving them the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge acquired during their studies. The students were a part of the whole project from the initial proposals of the colour combination to the final design of the Christmas Tram and the stop. In addition, there was also an art competition in drawing pictures for primary schools in Bratislava. Selected pictures from this competition were placed in the Christmas Tram, where a symbolic small mobile gallery was created.

"From a teacher's perspective, I have to say that it's a wonderful moment to be proud of your students and your mission to be a teacher. Our metrology students co-created a breathtaking Christmas Tram for Bratislava. I would like to praise my project managers and their project teams who managed everything perfectly. I would also like to thank DPB for the opportunity to participate in a joint project that will surely add to the pre-Christmas spirit in the city," says Ján Rybář, Associate Professor at the Institute of Automation, Informatisation and Measurement, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, STU Bratislava.

Look for a snowflake in the timetables

Passengers will be able to get in the mood for the ride at the Christmas-decorated Jesenského stop. The Christmas Tram will run free of charge on a special line marked with ❄. First on the weekend of 9-10 December 2023, 13 December and from 16 December 2023 until 6 January 2024 every day except Christmas Eve. On weekends from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The tram will run on the circular route Jesenského - Námestie SNP - Kapucínska - Tunnel - nábrežie - Jesenského, serving all stops along the route. The chosen route is also ideal for tourists, who can thereby make their visit to Bratislava an unforgettable experience.