Czech metre gauge interurban tramway to be rebuilt

REBUILDING began on the 13km interurban tramway which connects Liberec with Jablonec nad Nisou on July 19. The metre gauge line closed for reconstruction the day before and will reopen widened to standard gauge in late 2022. Plans exist for an extension of the line into Jablonec town centre, but construction has yet to be approved The line, which is one of the last interurban tram routes remaining in central Europe, was built between 1947 and 1955 to connect the existing metre gauge tram systems in the town of Jablonec and the neighbouring city of Liberec. Part of the route runs in parallel with the Liberec to Harrachov railway line, but on a different alignment lower in the valley. As part of the rebuilding programme, it will be moved to the same level as the railway in the Proseč nad Nisou area. The rest of the Jablonec tram network was closed in 1965, while the Liberec city tram network was rebuilt to standard gauge by 2005 with work starting in the 1990s.

KEITH FENDER Services to Jablonec were operated by modernised Tatra T3 vehicles and it is likely these will be regauged to 1435mm and retained for use once the line reopens. T3R PLF part low floor car No. 28 leads high floor T3R PV No. 40 at the Jablonec nad Nisou terminus on April 7, 2017.