Prague’s 'mobile saunas' to cool down as 100+ more trams get air conditioning

Passengers riding Prague’s older Škoda 15T trams will soon have a cooler commute, with the city’s transport company beginning a major project to install air conditioning in 123 additional vehicles.

The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) has signed a contract worth more than CZK 395 million with Polish company Enika to retrofit the trams with cooling systems. The work will take place gradually over several years to avoid removing too many vehicles from service at once.

Once completed, all 250 Škoda 15T trams in Prague’s fleet will have air conditioning, alongside the city’s newer Škoda 52T vehicles that are currently being delivered. In total, about two-thirds of Prague trams will be air-conditioned, up from 16 percent currently.

The first upgraded tram will serve as a test vehicle and must pass technical approval and trial operation before wider installation begins. Each tram will receive three air-conditioning units, with one unit installed in each section of the articulated vehicle.

DPP said it plans to upgrade at least 20 trams annually. Vehicles will be sent for installation in coordination with their regular maintenance schedules, allowing the transport company to keep enough trams running during the process.

“The entire investment project will take place gradually, one vehicle at a time, so that within 12 months we can complete the additional air conditioning installation for at least 20 trams,” DPP technical director Jan Šurovský said.

The new systems will operate automatically and work together with the existing heating system. In addition to cooling, they will provide ventilation, preheating of incoming air during colder weather, and temperature regulation.

The upgrade addresses a long-running complaint among passengers during Prague’s increasingly hot summers. Some older trams currently lack passenger air conditioning, creating uncomfortable conditions during heat waves.

Previous attempts to add cooling systems to Škoda 15T trams were not completed, according to Prague Deputy Mayor for Transport Jaromír Beránek. The situation is expected to improve as more new Škoda 52T trams enter service.

“Non-air-conditioned vehicles will then make up only about one-third of DPP’s tram fleet,” Beránek said.

Passengers will be able to identify air-conditioned trams by a snowflake symbol displayed on information boards and in public transport apps. Trams with existing air conditioning are also recognizable by their yellow front panels, while the older upgraded vehicles will eventually join the same group.

The project comes as Prague continues to adapt its public transport system to hotter summers. While the city already operates dozens of air-conditioned trams, the new installations will significantly expand the number of cooler vehicles available on everyday routes.