The Škoda 03 T (sold as Škoda Astra, later Škoda Anitra (''Asynchronní nízkopodlažní tramvaj''; Asynchronous Low-floor Tram)) is a three-section

low-floor tram A low-floor tram is a tram that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace. ...

developed by

Škoda Transportation Škoda Transportation Akciová společnost, a.s. is a Czech Republic, Czech manufacturer of vehicles for public transport, including Tram, trams, Electric multiple unit, electric multiple units, and Bus, buses. The company was formerly a divisio ...

and Inekon Group. The design was introduced in 1996,"Tatra's new Czech rival launches its new low-floor ASTRA tram" (October 1996). '' Light Rail and Modern Tramway'', p. 374.

Ian Allan Publishing Ian Allan Publishing was an English publisher, established in 1942, which specialised in transport books. It was founded by Ian Allan. In 1942, Ian Allan, then working in the public relations department for the Southern Railway at Waterloo ...

Light Rail Transit Association The Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA), formerly the Light Railway Transport League (LRTL), is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to advocate and encourage research into the retention and development of light rail and tramway/streetc ...

(UK). and the first car was completed in 1998. The

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...

between Škoda and Inekon was dissolved in 2001, after which Škoda continued to sell the 03 T, while Inekon formed a new partnership with DPO (''Dopravní podnik Ostrava'', the city transport company of

Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...

),''

Tramways & Urban Transit ''Tramways & Urban Transit'' ''(TAUT'' or ''T&UT)'', also known as ''Modern Tramway'', is a British monthly magazine about tramways and light rail transport, published continuously since 1938. Its content is orientated both to tramway enthusi ...

'', March 2002, p. 103. Light Rail Transit Association (UK). known as DPO Inekon, and in 2002 began selling a nearly identical version of the ''Astra'', under the name '' Trio''.''

'', September 2003, p. 347. Light Rail Transit Association (UK). . The 03 T is uni-directional and has a

low floor Low or LOW or lows, may refer to: People * Low (surname) Low is an English language, English and Languages of Scotland, Scottish surname. It is also a common surname found among Overseas Chinese language, Chinese communities around the world. ...

over half of its length. The front and rear sections, under which the wheels are placed, have a high floor; the middle section, between these, has a low floor. Some other Škoda trams, such as the 05 T and 10 T, are based on the Astra.

Deliveries and operation

References

External links

Škoda Astra
at Skoda.cz {{DEFAULTSORT:Skoda 03 T Tram vehicles of the Czech Republic Škoda trams