Tatra Electric Railway

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:

Tatra Electric Railway
TEŽ train near Poprad-Tatry, with High Tatras in the background.
Overview
OwnerŽeleznice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR)
LocaleSlovakia
Service
Operator(s)Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK)
Technical
Line length35 km (22 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC
Highest elevation1,350 m (4,430 ft)
Route map

History

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.

Rolling Stock
Photo Class Trains in service Number built Notes
ZSSK Class 425.95 15 15
ŽSR Class 420.95 1 18 Class 420.95 is an EMU consisting of three sections. #EMU 89.0009 is persevered as a historic vehicle. #420.953-2 is undergoing restoration.
Ganz 1 Historic train consisting of powered car #22, trailer #12 and trailer #16.

Network map

  • Tatra railway in Poprad
  • Railway Station in Starý Smokovec, with old set of trains (ČSD Class EMU 89.0)
  • Railway Halt in Tatranské Zruby
  • Railway Station in Štrbské Pleso, transfer point between the Tatra electric railway and the Štrbské Pleso - Štrba rack railway
  • Station at Tatranská Lomnica
  • Station at Starý Smokovec

See also

References
    • Catchpole, Paul (1998). Steam and Rail in Slovakia. Kings Norton, Birmingham, England: Locomotives International. ISBN 1-900340-08-9.
    • "Reportáže - História: Po stopách Tatranských elektrických železníc - I. časť" [Reports - History: In the Footsteps of the Tatra electric railways - part I]. Railpage.net (in Slovak). Retrieved 30 September 2010.
    • "Slovensko: Po stopách Tatranských elektrických železníc - II. časť" [Slovakia: In the Footsteps of the Tatra electric railways - part II]. Railpage.net (in Slovak). Retrieved 30 September 2010.

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