Czech tram manufacturer Pragoimex a.s. shipped two brand new Vario LF trams to Uzbekistan.

The new vehicles are expected to arrive in Tashkent for Navruz, a national holiday celebrated in on March 21. Under the contract with the Czech company the Uzbek capital plans to purchase 20 cars.

The total cost of streetcars is $19.8 million. The project is financed by the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan.

The first two trams of the brand arrived in the capital last year and came out on routes 9 and 13 in late August. Under the signed contract the Czech company has to ship all the trams during 2012. Experts say the Czech trams fully comply with European standards, have a modern design and high quality. They are equipped with modern electronic control system that can save up to 30-40% of electricity. In addition, they are designed to work in almost any weather conditions up to 40 degrees below zero and 70 degrees of heat, and voltage drops between 400 to 900 volts. These trams move quietly and smoothly, compartment is designed for an average of 140 people and has soft seats. Middle doors are equipped with a ramp for wheelchair.

Pragoimex a.s. earlier this year opened its representative office in Tashkent, headed by Milan Tomes.

Facts and figures / Passenger traffic

Tashkent public passenger fleet unites more than 2,300 vehicles serving about 1.8 million passengers a day. Of these, over 1 million people are transported by buses, more than 176,000 by share taxi, 84,000 by tram and 183.3 thousand by metro. (Source: Uzbekistan Today Newspaper)