First new tram arrives in Zagreb after 15 years, to enter service in the second half of February

(Patria) - Zagrebački električni tramvaj (ZET), after 15 years, will receive a completely new tram today, manufactured by Končar-Electric Vehicles.

The City of Zagreb Administration announced this information yesterday, adding that its inclusion in traffic should be in the second half of February.

The new low-floor tram NT2400 arrives at the Trešnjevka depot today, and before its official handover and inclusion in regular lines, it will undergo inspection and testing in real conditions on Zagreb's streets.

The inspection will be carried out by a Technical Inspection Commission, composed of representatives from ZET and university professors, in cooperation with experts from Končar.

After the inspection and a positive opinion from the Commission, the City of Zagreb will issue a permit for operation, followed by the official handover and the tram's inclusion in regular traffic, which is expected in the second half of February.

The tram was completed ahead of schedule, which was set for June, and it is the first of a total of 40 contracted trams.

"It should be noted that after the delivery of the first 20 units, the production of the contracted additional 20 low-floor trams will continue, which are expected to be delivered during 2026 and 2027.

The plan is to procure another 40 low-floor trams, with over 200 million euros invested in the modernization of the tram fleet," the City of Zagreb Administration emphasizes.

- We are continuously working on improving public transport. After the expansion of the tram network and the announcement of the procurement of 60 low-floor buses, the new tram is another step towards better, higher quality, and safer mobility in Zagreb.

Soon, only modern low-floor trams will operate in the city, placing Zagreb alongside European metropolises - said Mayor Tomislav Tomašević on this occasion.

The tram, 20.8 meters long with a capacity of 115 passengers, is adapted for people with disabilities, equipped with video surveillance, USB ports, and a passenger counting system, and its service life is 35 years.

A novelty, as highlighted by the City, is its innovative technology that reduces electricity consumption by returning braking energy to the grid.

The value of the contract is 47.2 million euros with VAT, and the new vehicle is fully financed within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The City of Zagreb also reminds that after more than 20 years, the construction of new tram lines in Sarajevska and Heinzelova streets has begun, the funicular has been revitalized, and the reconstruction of the Mihaljevac tram turnaround has been completed, "which represents a significant step forward in investing in transport infrastructure."