Tunel Krakowskiego Szybkiego Tramwaju, Underground tram tunnel in central Kraków, Poland
The Kraków Rapid Tram Tunnel stretches 4,660 feet through the city center, connecting Rondo Mogilskie with the Main Railway Station and Technical University areas through a single underground tube with two stations.
Construction of the tunnel began in 1974 as part of a planned metro line to Nowa Huta, but after economic difficulties and political changes, the project was redesigned as a tram tunnel and finally opened on December 11, 2008.
The tunnel represents Kraków's commitment to modern public transportation and stands as the first underground tram system in Poland, symbolizing the city's adaptation of infrastructure to meet growing urban mobility needs while preserving the historic city center.
The tunnel operates with modern trams running every 5 to 10 minutes during peak hours, features escalators and elevators for accessibility, and maintains a maximum speed of 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour) through the underground section.
Despite taking over 34 years from initial groundbreaking to completion, the tunnel became Poland's only dedicated underground tram transit system and serves as a functioning monument to perseverance through multiple economic and political changes during its development.
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