Low-floor tram receives first passengers
The event for children started with a guided tour of the 5th tram depot. Later on children depicted their impressions in drawings under the supervison of artist Jānis Anmanis. It is scheduled that these drawings will be put on e-tickets this autumn. Early in June the best drawings will be published on the website of "Rīgas satiksme", so everybody visiting the webpage will be able to vote for the drawing he/she likes the best, thus choosing the design of e-ticket.
From tram depot No. 5 the new tram took the children to the tram circle in Radio Street, where it received the first passengers at the Railway Terminal Square tram stop and started its first trip on tram route No. 6.
Vadims Baraņņiks, acting chairman of Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Committee: "This is an important step forward in upgrading the tram rolling stock in Riga, particularly because tram is the most environment friendly transport. As the new tram is equipped with a lifting platform, it will facilitate the use of public transport for disabled persons and mothers with baby-cars. I hope that Riga residents and guests will appreciate the advantages of the new low-floor tram."
Leons Bemhens, "Rīgas satiksme" chairman of the board: "Tram route No. 6 was chosen for the low-floor tram as the most intensive tram line in Riga, which carries more than 30, 000 passengers daily. On workdays, the route is served by 13 tram sections, which will be gradually replaced by new low-floor trams."
The first Czech-made "Škoda" low-floor tram arrived in Riga late in March and was tested until the beginning of June. The tram’s capacity is 300 passengers; it is 31.64 meters long and replaces two 2-tramcar sections now in service. The tram is composed of three interconnected sections allowing passengers to move throughout the vehicle. It is equipped by a lifting platform for disabled persons, as well as special ventilation and air conditioning systems. The next three low-floor trams will arrive in Riga late in September, but the whole batch of 20 trams is to be delivered by the end of January 2011.
The event for children started with a guided tour of the 5th tram depot. Later on children depicted their impressions in drawings under the supervison of artist Jānis Anmanis. It is scheduled that these drawings will be put on e-tickets this autumn. Early in June the best drawings will be published on the website of "Rīgas satiksme", so everybody visiting the webpage will be able to vote for the drawing he/she likes the best, thus choosing the design of e-ticket.
From tram depot No. 5 the new tram took the children to the tram circle in Radio Street, where it received the first passengers at the Railway Terminal Square tram stop and started its first trip on tram route No. 6.
Vadims Baraņņiks, acting chairman of Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Committee: "This is an important step forward in upgrading the tram rolling stock in Riga, particularly because tram is the most environment friendly transport. As the new tram is equipped with a lifting platform, it will facilitate the use of public transport for disabled persons and mothers with baby-cars. I hope that Riga residents and guests will appreciate the advantages of the new low-floor tram."
Leons Bemhens, "Rīgas satiksme" chairman of the board: "Tram route No. 6 was chosen for the low-floor tram as the most intensive tram line in Riga, which carries more than 30, 000 passengers daily. On workdays, the route is served by 13 tram sections, which will be gradually replaced by new low-floor trams."
The first Czech-made "Škoda" low-floor tram arrived in Riga late in March and was tested until the beginning of June. The tram’s capacity is 300 passengers; it is 31.64 meters long and replaces two 2-tramcar sections now in service. The tram is composed of three interconnected sections allowing passengers to move throughout the vehicle. It is equipped by a lifting platform for disabled persons, as well as special ventilation and air conditioning systems. The next three low-floor trams will arrive in Riga late in September, but the whole batch of 20 trams is to be delivered by the end of January 2011.