Public transport in Košice

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Košice Transit Company
Dopravný podnik mesta Košice
Logo DPMK
New Vario LF2 plus tram with city colors
New Vario LF2 plus tram with city colors
Overview
LocaleKošice, Slovakia
Transit typeTram and bus
Number of lines65
HeadquartersBardejovská 6
Websitedpmk.sk
Operation
Began operation25 May 1994
Operator(s)City of Košice
Technical
System lengthLength of all lines:
Trams: 177 km (110 mi)
Buses: 743.1 km (461.7 mi)
Trolleybuses: 25.1 km (15.6 mi)

The Košice public transit system operates in Košice, Slovakia; services are managed by the Košice Transit Company (Slovak: Dopravný podnik mesta Košice (DPMK)).

History[]

The Košice transit company was founded in 1891 by Stefan Popper,[1] who built the first track for a horse-drawn tramway. The company had the Magyar name Kassai Közúti Vasút – KKK ("Košice Street Railway").[2] In 1914, all tram tracks were electrified and the transit company was renamed as Kassai Villamos Közúti Vasút (English "Košice electric tramway lines").

The tram system was destroyed in World War I and again in World War II. In 1945, at the end of hostilities, the system was rebuilt again. Nowadays, the public transport company is called Dopravný podnik mesta Košice ("Transit Company of the City of Košice").

System[]

Košice tram and trolley map

The Košice public transit system includes trams, buses, and trolleybuses. There are 15 tram lines, with a total length of 177 km, 41 bus routes with a total length of 743.1 km, and two trolleybus routes with a total length of 25.1 km. The system extends from the city center to industrial areas and outlying villages near the city.[3]

Fares[]

The fare has changed over the years, costing 6 SKK for students and children less than 15 years of age, and 12 SKK for people 15 years and older as of 2008. Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009.[4] In 2010, the tickets cost 0,25 € for students, and children less than 15 years of age, and 0,55 € for people 15 years and older. In 2019, a strike caused tickets to become more expensive. As of 2020, tickets cost 0.90 € for adults 15 to 62 years of age, and 0.45 € for children and adults over 62 years of age.[5] All travellers must have a valid travel ticket.

Passengers older than 70 years, handicapped people, and members of parliament travel for free. Tickets are single-use and time-limited to a particular day, week, or month, though students have concessions to this requirement. Contactless smart cards issued by most Slovak public transport companies are accepted. Passengers using them can obtain tickets at lowered prices upon boarding in card validators. Cards are also the only way of obtaining season tickets, like for one, three, and six months. Cards, which are not time-limited, are available to employees. Tickets can also be bought using SMS for 1.10 €.[6]

Vehicles[]

Trams[]

The Vario LF2 trams in front of Košice Railway station

In use[]

  • T6A5 (manufactured 1991–1992): 29 are still in use, one was retired after crashing into a truck in 2009. Injuries were only caused to people, and the tram was badly damaged in front.
  • KT8D5 (manufactured 1986–1991): 11 are still in use.
  • is a variant of the KT8D5 with a low-floor middle carriage, and was built between 2003 and 2009. Eight are still in use.
  • 1 entered service in 2011 and is still in use.
  • 33 went into service in 2014/15 and 13 in 2017/2018. All 46 are still in use.

Retired[]

  • T3SUCS (manufactured between 1963 and 1989): one is still used by DPMK. It is a technical tram, and many were retired or sent to other cities. The last remaining tram in Košice no longer takes passengers.

Buses[]

Public bus in Košice

In use[]

  • Solaris Urbino 15 35 entered service between 2000 and 2004. 13 are still in use.
  • Solaris Urbino 12 1 entered service in 2003 and 2 in 2004. 1 is still in use.
  • Solaris New Urbino 12 15 entered service in 2021. All 15 are still in use.
  • TEDOM C 12 G 19 entered service in 2007/2008. 3 are still in use.
  • Irisbus Citelis 18M 10 entered service in 2009 and 19 in 2010. 26 are still in use.
  • 1 entered service in 2010 and 1 in 2011. Both are still in use.
  • SOR NB 12 City 61 entered service in 2014. All 61 are still in use.
  • SOR NB 18 City 56 entered service in 2014 and 9 in 2018. All 65 are still in use.
  • SOR BN 9,5 5 entered service in 2014. All 5 are still in use.
  • SOR EBN 10.5 5 entered service in 2014. All 5 are still in use.
  • 9 entered service in 2016 and 9 in 2018. All 18 are still in use.

Retired[]

  • Karosa (manufactured between 1994 and 2005 by Iveco): these buses were diesel or CNG powered. All models – the C734, C744, B731, B732, B741, B932, and B941 – were retired from 2013 to 2014.
  • One Karosa B 952, #5244, is used as a training vehicle.
  • Novoplan C12 (manufactured in 2002): all 3 are retired.
  • Ikarus (manufactured between 1989 and 1997 by Ikarus Bus): all three models – the Ikarus 280, Ikarus 415, and Ikarus 435 – were retired.
  • One Ikarus 280, #4082, has been preserved as a historic vehicle.

Trolleybuses[]

In 2015, the city underwent a mass track reconstruction which resulted in the temporary stoppage of these services. The Škoda 14TrM returned to service in 2018, and it travels on Sundays. DPMK also refurbished a Škoda 15Tr which restarted service on 22 June 2019 – the same day as the reconstructed 15Tr - and was used on a "trolleybus day" trip that took passengers to the "trolleybus cemetery", where trolleybuses in 2015 or earlier were discarded.

In use[]

  • Škoda 15Tr 15 entered service in 1993 and 1 in 2019. 2 are still in use.
  • Škoda 14TrM 7 entered service in 1999. 1 is still in use.

Retired[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "História MHD v Košiciach: Počiatky a konce konskej a parnej sily v doprave (1881–1909)". imhd .sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. ^ DPMK. "História košickej hromadnej dopravy −1. časť". dpmk.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 June 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Slovakia and the euro". European Commission – European Commission. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  5. ^ "EXCERPT FROM THE PRICE LIST FOR FOREIGN VISITORS | Dopravný podnik mesta Košice". www.dpmk.sk. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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