Two Prague bus routes to disappear as trolleybuses take over in November

Prague commuters will see two familiar bus routes replaced by electric trolleybuses starting Monday, Nov. 2, as the city continues its transition toward cleaner public transport.

According to the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP), bus routes 131 and 176 will be replaced by trolleybus routes 51 and 53, respectively. The new services will use modern, low-floor, air-conditioned vehicles designed to provide quieter, emission-free operation along their routes.

Bus 131 will become trolleybus 51, continuing to connect Bořislavka and Hradčanská through Hanspaulka, U Matěje, and Sibiřské náměstí. During weekday rush hours, services will run every four to six minutes.

Bus 176 will become trolleybus 53, serving the route between Karlovo náměstí and Stadion Strahov, passing through Palackého náměstí, Švandovo divadlo, and Hřebenka. During weekday peak periods, trolleybuses will operate every six to eight minutes.

For passengers, the main change will be the route numbers and vehicles rather than the destinations served. Those who regularly use either bus should look for trolleybus 51 or 53 from Monday.

The new routes are part of Prague's wider project to electrify bus services on the western side of the Vltava River, approved by city authorities in 2020.

Both routes will primarily use Bozankaya SNG 12T trolleybuses, equipped with low-floor access and air conditioning.

The rollout follows the introduction of trolleybus route 52 in September, which replaced bus 137 between Na Knížecí and Jinonice.

The latest changes mark another step in Prague's efforts to reduce emissions and modernize its public transport network while maintaining connections across established commuter routes.

Passengers can check the updated timetables for routes 51 and 53 through DPP before traveling on Monday.