Tatra Electric Railway

Tatra Electric Railway
TEŽ train near Poprad-Tatry, with High Tatras in the background.
Operation
Infrastructure company	Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR)
Major operators	Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK)
System length
Total	35 km (22 mi)
Electrified	35 km (22 mi)
Track gauge
1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge	Whole network
Electrification
1,500 V DC	Whole network
Features
Highest elevation	1,350 m (4,430 ft)
at	Štrbské Pleso
Lowest elevation	670 m (2,200 ft)
at	Poprad-Tatry
Map

Map

The Tatra Electric Railway (Slovak: Tatranská elektrická železnica), colloquially Tatra Railway, is an electrified (1500 V DC) single track narrow gauge railway 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) in the Slovak part of the Tatra mountains. It consists of two parts:

After the completion of the Košice-Bohumín Railway in 1871 and of Poprad - Kežmarok in 1892, the High Tatras were easier to access, and tourism expanded, which required accessibility. In 1896, a rack railway from Štrbské Pleso to Štrba was built.

Finally, it was decided to build an electrified, narrow gauge railway from Poprad to Starý Smokovec. Construction started in 1906 and the track was opened in 1908. The branch line from Starý Smokovec to Tatranská Lomnica was opened in 1911 and the final extension from Starý Smokovec to Štrbské Pleso was opened in 1912. At that time, the railway was used for passenger, as well as for cargo transport.

In 1948, the railway was nationalised. From 1950 to 1992, it was managed by the Czechoslovak State Railways and since 1993 by the Railways of the Slovak Republic.

In the second half of the 1960s, the railway underwent major reconstruction during preparations for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1970. Since 1970, the railway provides only passenger service.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the old ČSD Class EMU 89.0 trains built by ČKD in the 1960s were replaced by new Stadler GTW ZSSK Class 425.95 railcars.