Tatra T6A5
| Tatra T6A5 | |
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T6A5 in Košice
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Interior T6A5
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| Manufacturer | ČKD Tatra |
| Constructed | 1991-1998 |
| Number built | 296 |
| Capacity | 30 seats 128 standing |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 14,700 mm (48 ft 3 in) |
| Width | 2,500 mm (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3,165 mm (10 ft 4.6 in) |
| Floor height | 920 mm (36 in) |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) as built |
| Weight | 19.5 t |
| Traction system | TV3 Thyristor equipment 4 motors - models TE 023, TE 026A02 |
| Electric system(s) | 600 V DC |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Track gauge |
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) |
Tatra T6A5 is a unidirectional high-floor streetcar made for public transport in Europe and is one sub-type of T6 standard trams made by Czech light rail supplier Tatra ČKD in Prague. Five cities, namely Bratislava, Košice in Slovakia and Brno, Prague and Ostrava in Czech Republic operate them in various configurations and amounts. The vehicle was designed as successor to Tatra T3 which has been operated in Europe for more than three decades at the time T6A5 was launched. The launch customer was Dopravný podnik Bratislava which received the first set of two vehicles in 1991. Apart from four units which were severely damaged in accidents and were withdrawn from the service, full fleet remains in operation as of today. They are commonly called "Irons" by general public and operator employees because their design resembles the triangular surface of clothing irons when seen from larger height.
Although T6A5 is operated exclusively in Czech Republic and Slovakia, there are several different versions operated in other states in Continental Europe and some efforts had been made also to operate these vehicles in North America.
During the early 1980s, new requirements were set by European light rail operators for new vehicles, which would feature lower operating costs and easier maintenance. At the time, Tatra ČKD engineers were already working on new concepts of design and controls that would replace almost 30-year-old Tatra T3 dominating the tram fleet in many European cities.
The T6 model range was introduced with T6B5 in 1983, which has been made mostly for Russian and Ukrainian operators. Tatra T6B5 featured electronic controls and completely new design. Tatra T6A2 launched in 1985 was redesigned to meet requirements for German and Hungarian operators. Vehicle remained technically same but was made considerably smaller to better suit the operation in Germany due to their much narrower streets and less space between rails. To bridge the differences between the two, Tatra T6A5 was developed which was not as large and heavy as T6B5 but not as small as T6A2. German cities Schwerin, Chemnitz were considering T6A5 for fleet restoration.
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