Slovakia - Tram services over obscure routes
Introduction
Some tram systems advertise their depot workings and enable one to ascertain the regular use by passenger-carrying services of junctions or sections of line that do not otherwise see public service. This occasional series lists such services that have come to notice. While the data for each system is current at the date stated, it is not the intention to endeavour to keep every entry up to date at every service change - the listing serves as a guide for travellers as to the sort of services they can look out for, enabling them to check current published timetable material at their time of travel.
To assist in tracing services, the route and/or timetable number for each journey is shown in parentheses, e.g. (1). Days of operation are in English notation (respectively: Su, M, T, W, Th, F, S) - plus "O" for only, "X" for excepted. Su (Sundays) usually includes public holidays in mainland Europe - but check locally.
Listings for other systems throughout the world - in the same format as shown below (please include date of timetable validity) - will always be welcomed.
Bratislava
As at August 2022 Timetables here IMHD 1 November 2020 Route map.
Blumentál to Úrad vlády SR
- the east to north curve is only used by route 7 to/from Bratislava Hl s between 05.28 - 09.13 and 13.53 - 17.55 Mondays to Fridays
Račianske mýto and East to South curve to Vazovova
- Route 3 SSuX Depot workings from Komisárky to Depo Jurajov are shown in the on line timetable dated 5.9.2022 with departures from Račianske mýto at 09.10, 09:28, 10:28, 19:26, 19:41, 21:25 & 22:45 SSuX, 21:15 & 22:45 SSuO. Note times differ on non-school days.
Americké námesti route 4 stop and west to north curve towards Vazovova/Blumentál
- Historic route A, running hourly from Jesenského from 10:20 to 17:20 SSuO from 2 July - 25 September 2022.
Tram Tunnel west end north to east
- Stop now known as Nám. Ľ. Štúra, previously Chatan Sófer. As at May 2025 in use Monday to Friday by an anti-clockwise only circular route 1 on a timetable valid from 18 December 2023.
Previously only use was by Historic route A.
Košice
A route map dated 21.3.2022 is here, and timetables here. Background details for the system are on the DPMK website.
US Steel Works services summary
From an unknown date there is no regular route covering the 10.6km branch from the "catherine wheel" grand junction at Kruhový objazd Moldavská to the Steelworks. Its only services are routes R1 - R8 that run intermittently assumed linked to 24/7 shift changes which run to/from the ends of normal route branches or unique turning points in Košice, a few routes using rare curves as a consequence. However as the only Tram Depot is located just beyond the start of the Steel Works line, the timetables show most of the services via unusual curves are in fact Depot workings using the R1 - R8 route numbers and do not run to/from US Steel. As a consequence the entries below are split, the first showing those using the branch from/to Kruhový objazd and US Steel, others for details of use of rare curves.
Kruhový objazd south to US Steel
As at April 2025 and note some services skip stops on the branch.
Departures from Kruhový objazd at 04:50/52/54, 05:00/02/04/06/11/14/16/18/33, 06:03/19/21/22/34, 07:01/27/29/31, 13:01/03/05/16/36/51, 14:01/21/51, 15:21/25/27/41, 17:01/03/05/16, 21:02/03/04/17 SSuX 05:00/03/17, 13:02/03/04/18, 17:02/03/04/18, 21:02/03/04/17 SSuO
Departures from US Steel at 05:11/16/21/35/41/51, 06:03/08/11/23/28/33/40/45/48, 07:17/42/57, 14:01/07/10/13/19/22/25/30/35/51/53/55, 15:11/16/48/50, 16:11, 18:11/31/33/35, 22:08/11/23/28 SSuX 06:11/23/28/33, 14:11/23/28/33, 18:11/31/33/35, 22:08/11/23/28 SSuO
Note a few services do not run on non-schooldays, please double check the Journey Planner for details.
North to west curve between Amfiteáter and Zimná
- route R4 from Botanicka zahrada at 04:49 Daily to US Steel, 07:21, 07:24, 07:27 to Bernolákova, 08:03, 09:03, 10:48, 12:33, 13:33, 15:08 to OC Optima, 15:13 to Bernolákova SSuX or 20:38 to Bernolákova SSuO
- route R4 from Amfiteáter at 04:42, 05:54, 06:23, 07:12/15/18/21, 08:44/54, 09:10/34, 12:14, 13:14, 14:43/54, 15:08 SSuX or 07:58 SSuO
Note there are significant variations between academic, school or university term days so check the Journey Planner
Spoločenský pavilón east to south and branch to the DPMK Tram Depot entrance
- route R6 departing Kruhový objazd at 07:02/05 "University break" days only...
- route R6 departing DPMK at 13:28, 14:08/13/28 school term SSuX or 13:28/58, 14:08/28 school holidays SSuX
Note the journey planner shows no other services scheduled to run in service to the DPMK Tram Depot entrance.
VSS, križovatka west to south
- route R8 departures from Autocamping at 04:49 & 04:51 SSuX schooldays, 04:49, 05:49 & 06:42 SSuX non-schooldays
- route R8 departures from Socha Jána Pavla II at 04:58 SSuX to US steel, or 16:58 SSuX school term, 16:38 SSuX school break, 21:54 SSuX to Alejová, gymnázium. Note neither the timetable nor journey planner has these continuing in service to the DPMK Depot.
Kruhový objazd Moldavská "catherine wheel" junction
This entry identifies which parts of the tracks radiating in four directions are used only by routes R1 - R8
- West to south curve off the junction by all R journeys towards OC Optima or US Steel
- South to east curve off the US Steel branch by all R routes
- North to south on the west side of the junction between stops SOŠ Automobilová [routes R1, R2, R5] or Alejová Gymnázium [R8] & Kruhový objazd, Addionally from SOŠ Automobilov on the limited SO dates route 5's at 18:20, 19:00/20 20:00/20, 22:19 & 23:09 towards OC Optima or US Steel, check the Journey planner.
Note the south to north connection on the east side of the junction is not rare as it is in use by daily route 6 heading for Košice railway station [Staničné námestie] in addition to routes R1 & R5 from US Steel and limited route 5's SO evenings.
Hlavna Ulice Horse tram
- A Tourist horse tram was operating up to at least 2010 along a 1km part of the 1986 closed, de-electrified and pedestrianised Hlavna Ulice in the city centre. Later recent year articles on the DPMK website show displays of historic trams on this section for special events which at least means the rails remain in situ.