Tatra KT8D5
Tatra KT8D5 is an Czechoslovakian articulated two-sided tram being poruced from 1986 to 1999. All 205 cars built are still in operation, but many of them are modernised or re-built. Nowadays these cars are used in Czech republic, Slovakia (Košice), Hungary (Miskolc), Bosnia (Sarajevo), Russia (Volgograd), Germany (Strausberg) and DPRK (Pyongyang).
Ironically KT8D5 model developed as a prototype of the new tram generation wich would compeletely replace old T3 and T6 types of Tatra trams in USSR and other Comecon contries. This new serie was planed to consist of several modular tramcars, including single car, 8-axis one-sided, 8-axis two-sided and 10-axis cars (i’m not sure in the last one).
One of two prototypes – two-sided 8-axis cars – was sent to Moscow in 1988 were it was tested for some years on the Czertanovo semi-rapid tram line, but was rejected and sent to Volgograd where it is still operating on Metrotram line.
Although Moscow regected form this car many other Soviet sities were interested in this project to fill rapid lines, but USSR collapsed, and nor Russia, or Ukraine couldn’t afford these cars any more. So most part of “Soviet” party cars were sold to DPRK, on the-new built Pyongyang tram system where they work nowadays. KT8D5 wich were left in Czech Rep, were rebuilt with T3 tram gear and set up to work in many cities as Praha, Ostrava, Brno etc.
Some cars were donated to the city of Sarajevo after the Bosnian war (in 1992) to help the city to handle with war damage.
All KT8D5 served in Litvinov-Most interurban line were sold to Miskolc where they are still working well.
Two cars were sold to Strausberg (Berlin’s suburb) to operate on local tram line.
But Moscow still wanted some new cars, but the only thing we could affrod at that time was a cutted one-side single tram car, wich was named T7B5 and had many KT8D5’s design features.
On photo made by Aare Olander you can see one of the two first KT8D5 trams in Volgograd in 1992.
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