Trams in Brno
| Brno tramway network Brněnská tramvajová síť | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Tatra T3 and Škoda 13T near the main train station | |||
| Operation | |||
| Locale | Brno, Czech Republic | ||
| Open | 1869 (horse tram) 1884 (steam tram) 1900 (electric tram) | ||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Routes | 12 | ||
| Operator(s) | Dopravní podnik města Brna | ||
| Infrastructure | |||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Electrification | 600 V DC | ||
| Stock | 281 tram vehicles | ||
| Statistics | |||
| Track length (single) | 139 km (86 mi) | ||
| Route length | 70.4 km (43.7 mi) | ||
| 2012 | 196.513 million (2013) | ||
| |||
| Website | http://www.dpmb.cz DPMB — How to travel | ||
The Brno tramway network (Czech: Tramvajová doprava v Brně, simply Tramvaje v Brně) was the first network of its kind to be put into operation in what is now known as the Czech Republic with its horse tram lines dating back to 1869. Today, Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, after Prague, and its tram network is also the second largest in the country.
Currently, the Brno tram system comprises 11 lines, with a total operational track length of 139 kilometres (86 mi) and a total route length of 70.4 kilometres (43.7 mi). The lines not only service the urban area, but also lead to the neighboring town of Modřice located south of Brno. Before construction began on the final leg of the extension in 2008, the entire network was made up of 69.7 km of track. The trams are operated by the City of Brno, Dopravní podnik města Brna (DPMB).
In the Brno dialect of the Czech language (hantec), the word for tram is ‘šalina’. The origins of this word can be traced to the German expression ‘Elektrische Linie’ (electric lines) or 'schallen' (to sound).