bobek

Date: 10/27/2005 6:49:41 AM Author: Dark Avatar ... ... quote> Now these buildings put European communist era tenements to shame (and I've seen really bad ones). But hey, nice mass transit system! This kind of shuttle service can really do a difference convincing people to use mass transport. Edit (off topic): Now that's funny, abbreviation of Singapore's transit authority SMRT ( linky ) actually means death in Czech...

Sooo many skyscrapers all around this thread... Not that I dislike them, but I'm simply not used to them. Highest building in my country is 27 floors (or so) So it's time for a different skyline. I don't think it's the most beautiful, but hey, it's good enough and well... it's home Prague: I could watch this for hours... and now imagine this covered with snow I won't bother you with another ones, so finally just example of a really bad skyline - it's from Prague, too :

Well, time for more Europe (and another long post of mine ). First, the network of whole Czech republic Legend: solid line - in operation dashed line - proposed, some parts (few ) under construction --- purple - highways green - motorways red - national roads yellow - european international road numbering (E...) And now for Prague... Won't fit to Imageshack (3000x2212, 1.2MB), so only a link: map of Prague's highway network (made by UDI - Traffic engineering office) Legend: solid line - surface hihway/motorway dashed line - tunnel --- black - in operation red - proposed/under construction (till 2010) green & not filled - proposed, after 2010 And for some interchanges: First, I present you the Barrandov bridge (probably the best known interchange in the country): Built in 1983 (well, at first only one half of it), this 8 lane bridge connects the Prague city ring (MO) to R4 motorway and some local roads (Edit: and - of course - the river banks ). First, a historical picture from early 1990s, taken from the left river bank: Well, at these times it seemed to be a bit over-planned. And that's how it looks today (taken from the right river bank): Now you can see the traffic is a mess here The city ring runs across the bridge and towards the top-right corner, R4 is on the left side next to the river. The 4 lane road in top-left corner serves as temporary interconnection of city ring and Highway ring R1 (and that won't change till 2010), effectively making the bridge the only way for heavy truck traffic between every highway which ends up in Prague (that is D1, D5, D8, D11, R4, R6, R7, R10). Temporary means for 20 years or so already, thanks to the great planning. As you can imagine, this part of City ring is plagued heavily by trucks, traffic jams and accidents, I remember that 10km took me more than 2 hours to drive once. Speaking of highway ring, this will be the interchange between R1 (the ring itself), R4 and road II/101, few kilometers to the south from the Barrandov bridge: R1 runs left to right, R4 is the one large turn running to the back of the image, II/101+102 is in the front.

Date: 9/7/2005 10:30:52 PM Author: jbridgman ... Dude! this is an awesome tram network....so wanna go there sometime. I read this post completely.. I was wondering about the pic I quoted....you see how the pantograph is almost completely folded up? How does that work? Is there something on the tracks that lets the train know how far to fold the pantograph? I've been wondering about this for awhile, so it'd be awesome to get an answer. quote> Yes, just like Skyshroud and transitbuddie wrote, it's the overhead wires' tension. The pantograph is pushed against the wire, so there's a good contact ensured. If the tram derails (or the wire breaks), the pantograph would simply look like | instead of <> (or just >). Couldn't find a pic, so I hope I explained it enough. And here's the schematic of tram lines (metro also included). I only provide the link, the whole picture really wouldn't fit here (621kB). The legend is czech only (couldn't find an english one, even in english section of the transportation company web ), but I think the picture is pretty self-explanatory.

edited for being off topic. Mr. C. Seriously, I would like to know, too

warning - long post edit: Photos currently can not be displayed because the server hosting them had crashed. Hopefully data will be (someday) restored from backups. Till then no luck It's working again. There is quite extensive tram network in Prague and some parts of it could be called light rail. Some boring numbers: Total length: over 140kmNumber of lines: 26 daytime, 9 night (0:30am - 4:30am), over 530kmPassangers per year: 330 million Light rail parts look like this: (all photos form prazsketramvaje.cz ) > Hlubo

Date: 8/20/2005 12:25:53 PM Author: Sticksboi05 ... A new planned light rail is being constructed in Anacostia(Washington DC-SE). quote> The vehicle in the picture appears to be Skoda 10T tram, already in use in Portland and Tacoma. Is it just illustrative sample or will it be used in Anacostia system too? I just ask because I'm from Czech republic and I have some ties with Plzen, where these trams are built... Some info about the Skoda 10T (.pdf).

I think it looks weird... too many spins. And not to be forgotten speaking of highest structures ever built: Warszaw radio mast, Poland , 646m, 1974-1991.

I'll also throw my bit in: Not mentioning cathedrals (Prague's st. Vitus was actually built in years 1344-1929 ), I have excellent examples right from my neighbourhood - Male

This is so calles Dancing house, Prague, by F. O. Gehry and V. Milunic, built 1994-97. The site was empty for half a century, as preceding building was destroyed in 1945 air raid on Prague.

Date: 8/1/2005 8:23:03 AM Author: Nik-nik ... As I live in Arnhem in the netherlands there are Trolleys and normal busses throughout Arnhem and they are indeed eco friendly and less noisy. ... quote> Less noisy - lucky you... Couldn't remember of more annoying sound than the one this late 1980s beast does when it runs next to my house at 5am Fortunately the newer ones are quieter. http://doprava.unas.cz/Cesko/Plzen/459_goethova.jpg border = 0>

Prague main station: This is the old building, the new (1970's) passanger hall with an underground station is beneath the avenue: Front side of the building: The tracks leading to the tunnels (photographed from the street above the tunnels): The old hall interior (cafe nowadays): And finally, great example of railway architecture, the Kaproun halt on Jindrichuv Hradec - Nova Bystrice narrow-gauge railway: You actually have to wave for the train to stop...