Czechoslovak light rail - Legacy of socialist urbanism or opportunity for the future?

SEIDENGLANZ, Daniel, Martin KVIZDA, Tomáš NIGRIN, Zdeněk TOMEŠ and Jiří DUJKA. Czechoslovak light rail - Legacy of socialist urbanism or opportunity for the future? Journal of Transport Geography. Oxford: Elsevier, vol. 54, June, p. 414-429. ISSN 0966-6923. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.02.011. 2016.

Basic information

• Original name: Czechoslovak light rail - Legacy of socialist urbanism or opportunity for the future?
• Authors: SEIDENGLANZ, Daniel (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Martin KVIZDA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš NIGRIN (203 Czech Republic), Zdeněk TOMEŠ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Jiří DUJKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Journal of Transport Geography, Oxford, Elsevier, 2016, 0966-6923.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50700 5.7 Social and economic geography
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.675
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/16:00087608
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.02.011
• UT WoS: 000382344800041
• Keywords (in Czech): městská doprava; light rail; rachlá tramvaj; Praha; Brno; Bratislava
• Keywords in English: Urban transport; Light rail; Fast tram (‘rychlá tramvaj’); Prague; Bratislava; Brno
• Tags: AKR
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

This article focuses on the development of the Czechoslovak ‘rychlá tramvaj’ (‘fast tram’) systems in Prague, Bratislava and Brno. Its aim is to examine whether these systems meet the requirements of light rail and whether it is possible to continue their development as a functional light rail city transport system. A further aim is a detailed analysis of the conditions and contexts affecting the gradual development of ‘rychlá tramvaj’ schemes in three selected metropolises in the former Czechoslovakia. Urban development in Czechoslovakia was affected by the socialist planning system that constructed large housing estates on the edges of metropolises during the 1970s and 1980s. As a result, many commuters had to be moved between them and city centres daily; therefore, the necessity for high-capacity ‘rychlá tramvaj’ connections became apparent. After socio-political changes in 1989, a market economy was introduced and the trends of commercial and residential suburbanization have modified the spatial structure of the cities, and mobility has begun to be increasingly dependent on cars. In response to this, city councils departed from further development of ‘rychlá tramvaj’ schemes. Currently, the emphasis on sustainable mobility is apparent, principally because of smart city solutions, an environmental focus and a common European transport policy; thus, municipalities are rediscovering the virtues of light rail lines again. Because the ‘rychlá tramvaj’ systems from the 1970s and 1980s are still in operation, transforming them into modern light rail systems appears to be a convenient and cheap solution.

Links

• MUNI/A/0997/2015, interní kód MU: Name: Cost-benefit analýza projektů dopravní infrastruktury. (Acronym: CBA-IP)

Investor: Masaryk University, ITREGEP, Category A

• TD03000061, research and development project: Name: Význam regionálních terminálů vysokorychlostních tratí pro hustotu dopravních proudů a teritoriální soudržnost.

Investor: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic