We do back outside of the British Isles for this latest edition of “Around the World in Trams” and we’re still in Riga.
In the early years of the 21st century it had been decided that there needed to be a modernisation of the tram system and it was planned that the Tatras would be phased out. As with many grand plans it didn’t quite happen as planned and it wasn’t until 2008 that Skoda were awarded a contract to provide new trams, but some of the Tatras would still be kept in service. The first of the 15T ForCity Alfa Riga trams would enter service in 2010 and one of those is seen in the below photo.
57049 is seen carrying an all over advertisement for Xymelin in this photo. What is noticeable is how close to one end the pantograph on the tram is as it runs on route 6 to Jugla.
Photograph by David Jones, 7th June 2015
The pantograph on all Skoda 15Ts is always at the front of the tram as they are one-directional and were designed for Prague’s system where the pantograph is always at the leading end of the tram.
The Tatra KT8D5.RN2Ps that are bi-directional have a pantograph at both ends and, in most cases, it is the front one on the wire.