Kharkiv Tramline
Overview
Native nameХарківський трамвай
OwnerCity of Kharkiv
Area servedKholodnohirskyi District, Shevchenkivskyi District, Kyivskyi District, Saltivskyi District, Nemyshlyanskyi District, Industrialnyi District, Slobidskyi District, Osnovianskyi District, Novobavarskyi District
LocaleKharkiv, Ukraine
Number of lines9
Annual ridership103,818,300 (2016)
Websitehttp://gortransport.kharkov.ua
Operation
Began operationSeptember 24, 1882 (horse-drawn tram)
July 3, 1906 (electric tram)[1]
Operator(s)KP Miskelektrotransservis
KP Saltivske tramvaine depo
Number of vehicles276
Technical
System length217.6 kilometres (135.2 mi) (2017)
Track gauge1,524 mm (5 ft)
(1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Russian gauge)
System map

The Kharkiv tram (Ukrainian: Харкiвський трамвай) is part of the public transport system of the second largest city of Ukraine. The tram system has a "Russian Standard" track gauge of 1,524 mm (5 ft). The tram network is built almost exclusively on the streets of Kharkiv, making it a traditional tram system. The network consists almost exclusively of double track. In most parts the tracks are separated from other road traffic, whereas elsewhere tracks lie on lanes that cars and buses may also use.

History

The history of the horse tram

Horse-drawn tram on Mykolayivska Square

Beginning in 1871, people and companies began to apply to the Kharkov Duma with projects for the construction of a horse-drawn tram in Kharkiv. On March 2, 1881, French businessmen P.-K. Bonnie and E. Otlie appealed to the Duma with their rationale for the construction of a horse-drawn railway in Kharkiv, which was accepted. On May 31, 1882, a contract was signed with them for the construction of a road for passenger and goods traffic with a length of 17.5 versts. The first horse railway line was built on September 12, 1882 and belonged to a private Belgian company. The first route was from the station of the Azov-Kursk Railway (now the Kharkiv railway station) to the stock exchange on Mykolayivska Square. Over time, 3 tram lines were opened in the city center.

The fare was set at 5 kopecks per passenger for the entire journey with an additional charge of 2 kopecks in case of transfer to another line. The horse-drawn tram worked an average of 14-15 hours a day: from 07:00 to 23:00 in summer (until 22:00 in winter).

The first horse depot was built in 1885. On September 16, 1917, the City Duma considered the issue of stopping the horse-drawn tram. On March 23, 1919, the horse tram ceased to exist.

In July 1920, horse-drawn tram service was temporarily resumed on the section from the station to Rosa Luxemburg Square. But already in June 1921, this line was electrified — an electric tram began to run along it. In November 1922, the line on Moskalyovka was electrified, and in October 1923, the line along 1 Travnia and Staro-Moskovska Streets to the Chervonozavod Theater was electrified. The routes of the horse-drawn tram along Sumsky and Kinnaya Streets were canceled, and the lines were dismantled. The carriages of the horse-drawn tram were operated until the end of the 20s of the 20th century - due to the lack of rolling stock, they were used as trailer carriages for the electric tram. But in connection with the transition of all tram lines to broad gauge at the end of the 20s, the narrow-gauge carriages of the former horse-drawn tram were finally scrapped.

The history of the electric tram

Tram on Serhievska Square

The first 12 carriages, in 1906, were built at Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG.[1]

The track width was 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) (the current track width is 1,524 mm (5 ft)).[1]

Electric tram service was launched on the following routes: "Pavlivskyi Maidan - Balashovskyi Vokzal" along the street. Petinsky (now Georgiya Tarasenko St.), St. Zmiivska (now Gagarina Ave.), str. Netechenska, prov. Podilskyi, prov. Kostyurinskyi (now part of Podilskyi Prov.). In the same year, the Petynsky tram park was built, which was located at the Craft School. From the very beginning, it belonged to the city and was exploited by the city authorities, which caused conflicts with a private Belgian horse. There were fights between hired people and workers who laid tram lines.

Current times

One-time ticket for travel in the city tram. The price is 6 hryvnias.

In October 2016, extensive sections of the track are in poor condition, even unsafe. Sleepers are rotten in parts, fishplates unbolted, pointwork derelict, some rails have sunk some 8 cm (3.1 in) below the road surface, overhead voltage supply is poorly regulated. Speeds are low.

In October 2018, the line beyond Children's Park was back in service, though the track is in poor condition, especially at the balloon loops at the terminus and Children's Park. The line through the city center - previously unused except for specials - now sees regular services, but the line from near Children's Park past the cemetery and down to the valley is not in service. The line to the station is in bad condition. A section between the station and the river has been rebuilt, apparently now omitting any connections to former car barns and/or workshops.

In October 2021 the Stadler Metelitsa tram was making test runs on the Kharkiv tram system.[2][3] On 24 September 2021 acting mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov stated that his city's tram fleet would be completely renewed in four years.[3]

Tatra T6A5 destroyed by Russians in the bombardment of the Saltivka depot

Following the start of the ongoing Russian assault on Kharkiv since February 24th, 2022 in the invasion of Ukraine all traffic has been suspended on February 28. The tram depot in Saltivka has been destroyed by Russian bombardment early in March.[4] On May 4 the City Council announced it will be impossible to restore the system as all electrical substations and rolling stock have been destroyed by the enemy.[5]

A number of European cities, including Brno,[6] Ostrava and Prague, have offered to donate surplus tram cars for restoration of the system.

On May 19, 2022, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced that four light rail lines would restart service, due to the improving security situation in the city.[7]

Rolling stock

The Kharkiv tram system uses many different tram cars and types, with some being designed in Moscow and manufactured in Riga, some being manufactured by the ČKD Tatra company in Prague. The following data incorporates only some tram cars used by the system.

Current

Picture Manufacturer Model Quantity Since
Czech Republic ČKD Tatra

Latvia RVR

T3SU (3 doors)

T3VPA

T3SUCS

T3M

T3

T3A

89

3

61

15

5

30

1966

2009

2011

2011

2012

2013

Czech Republic ČKD Tatra T6B5SU 22 1988
Russia UKVZ KTM-5

71-619

1

9

1975

2007

Czech Republic ČKD Tatra

Ukraine KhVRZ

VPNP 3 2017
Switzerland Stadler Rail Metelitsa 1 2021

Historical

Picture Manufacturer Model Quantity Years
Germany MAN 12 1906–1930
Russia MMBP 74

28

1910–1949

1910–1965

Russia UKVZ Kh

M

236

163

1927–1969

1927–1969

Russia UKVZ KTM/KTP-1

KTM/KTP-2

49

140

1949–1974

1961–1980

Latvia RVR MTV-82 49 1953–1977
Latvia RVR RVZ-6 167 1961–1984
Czech Republic ČKD Tatra Tatra K2 40 1970–1991
Russia UKVZ KTM-5 136 1975–2004

Service rolling stock

References

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 (in Russian) Kharkiv tram - from and to (photo), SQ (24 July 2021)
  2. (in Russian) A new Swiss tram will run in Kharkiv, Status Quo (1 October 2021)
  3. 1 2 (in English) Swiss-based Stadler to build two factories in Kharkiv - acting mayor, Interfax-Ukraine (24 September 2021)
  4. "Зруйнований Харків. Кадри розгромленого окупантами трамвайного депо".
  5. "Наслідки "русского мира": у Харкові більше немає трамваїв, метро запустять після війни".
  6. "Brno daruje partnerskému Charkovu šest starších trolejbusů a dvě tramvaje".
  7. Beaubien, Jason (2022-05-19). "Kharkiv's mayor says it's time to move out of the city's subway stations". NPR. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
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