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Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 30 Jan 2011, 13:08
by zeibura
Seriously, if any of you ever come out to my new neck of the woods and think about doing the Prague Metro challenge, let me inform you that it's not really a challenge. while if you research it properly you get some good "between-ends-of-lines" views of the city, most of what you see while on the metro is tunnels. Not all that exciting.

The tram challenge on the other hand would be something else! It would probably take roughly as long as the tube challenge, maybe a bit less, and you'd get to see more or less the whole city just like with the tube challenge. Anyone up for it?

http://www.dpp.cz/download-file/3479-sc ... provoz.pdf

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 31 Jan 2011, 13:51
by Root
I could do a "tram challenger exchange" with you - if you come to Helsinki and do the tram challenge here, I'll come do it in Prague! Cheap flights, accommodation and time off permitting :)

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 09:55
by EastActionWoman
Did anyone do the tram challenge? I'll be in Prague in a couple of weeks for a conference so thought I'd try it. Would be a great way to see the city, especially the areas tourists don't normally go to. Currently downloading maps and timetables to try to work out a sensible route.

Have also got a route worked out for the metro challenge - as zeibura said, only three lines, so not too hard/exciting. Though there's been an extension to one of the lines since it was first discussed.

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 12:20
by Going Underground
Blimey Ollie and Zeibura - long since gone from the forum :(

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 02 Feb 2020, 14:39
by Nigel
As a frequent and regular visitor to Prague in recent years, I can confirm that the tram network is both extensive and sufficiently complex in its routes to offer a challenging route planning exercise.

Also, in my experience, the trams themselves range from the brand new to communist era museum pieces.

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 08 Feb 2020, 10:26
by EastActionWoman
Came up with a route then thought I'd check the key for the tram stop symbols. Turns out there are 14 stops which only work in one direction.

Have now come up with a route which covers everything - starting in the wilds of the south of the city and finishing not too far from my hotel. Need to work out timings next. The communist era trams (called "vintage" in the tourist bumpf) on route 23 only run every half hour.

On the plus side, all the metro stations have toilets, so i can schedule possible loo breaks along the route. Will do a couple of recces of the big interchanges on Sunday 16th, them give it a go on the Monday. Then metro challenge on Tuesday morning if I can still move.

In Madrid this weekend. Luckily, line 4 is closed for maintenance so I don't have to try the challenge here.

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 08 Feb 2020, 10:29
by EastActionWoman
Where there are a cluster of stops serving different lines but which have the same name, I've counted that all as one stop, e.g. I.P. Pavlova, which has eight different lines and who knows how many different platforms.

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 16 Feb 2020, 21:45
by EastActionWoman
OK. Route planned. Timings worked out. There aren't too many tight interchanges and I've allowed time for loo breaks. Barring storms and unexpected delays, I think I can do all 277 stops in around 13h15m. Following on from discussions on the Brum R15 thread, I won't be pressing the button for the request stops :lol:

Have charged both phones (they have the excellent Prague transport app on them - nice maps showing all the metro, tram and bus stops for a particular location with departure times). Got a power pack charged too. Pristine copy of the tram map to mark off stops as I go (and a couple of spare copies just in case). Drinks and snacks sorted, just need to get a decent night's sleep.

Starting from Levskeho at 6.57 and taking tram 17 to the opposite terminus at Vozovna Kobylisy, which should give me chance for a kip before taking my first bus.

If anyone would like to follow my progress, I'll be attempting to tweet - @xmlgeek

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 17 Feb 2020, 12:35
by Nigel
Thanks for the updates - I'm envious.

I don't think I will be back in Prague until June - I usually have a spare day when I'm there and I was wondering what to do this time.

Re: Prague Tram Challenge

Posted: 17 Feb 2020, 21:40
by EastActionWoman
Nigel wrote: 17 Feb 2020, 12:35 I don't think I will be back in Prague until June - I usually have a spare day when I'm there and I was wondering what to do this time.
If you do it, you'll definitely beat my time: 14 hours 56 minutes. After a cock-up with my route planning, I had to go back out after dinner to get a completion. What should have taken roughly 13 hours, ended up as almost two hours more. Luckily, the stop I missed out wasn't too far from the hotel, so was able to get there and back again in half an hour. I guess this counts as the WR as no-one else has claimed a time yet :D I think 13 hours is very beatable, so not too upset about having to add an extra couple of hours to it.

I'm really impressed with Prague public transport system. The metro, buses and trams all connect with each other easily and the PID map for each location shows stops for each of those forms of transport along with departure times. I think it shows timetabled times rather than live, but most things ran on time. I'd planned my route knowing nothing about interchange times, so I'd tried to minimize changing lines. This meant I had quite a few double backs and repeated stops. If I was to do it again, I'd go for a more usual loopy route with fewer repeats.

The trams were only really busy in the evening, so I got a seat most of the time. It did get cold hanging about at termini, but I'm glad it's unseasonably warm here at the moment - 13 degrees instead of the more usual 5 or freezing. In the summer you'd have more tourists getting in the way, so that might be a factor in June.

Good luck if you give it a go - would love to know how you get on.

My flight home is tomorrow evening, so going to give the metro challenge a try in the morning. Shorter, easier and I've already done the recces for it :D