Petřín Cable Car Marks Huge Milestone: 80 Million Passengers Transported

The iconic funicular leading to Petřín, achieved a remarkable feat today, as it welcomed its 80 millionth passenger.

This year alone, the Petřín cable car has transported over 1 million passengers, and in the previous year, it saw more than 1.708 million passengers.

However, the peak record was established in the pre-Christmas year of 2019, when an astonishing 2.230 million passengers experienced the cable car’s scenic journey.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in approximately 2.5 million fewer passengers, the Petřín cable car continues to be a significant tourist attraction.

Combining its allure with Prague Castle and the Zoological Garden, Petřín Gardens, and the Prague City Museum, the cable car stands as one of the Czech Republic’s most frequented destinations.

Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DPP, acknowledges the impact of the pandemic and hopes that the resumption of direct flights from Seoul or New York, as well as the introduction of a line from Taiwan to Prague, could soon boost passenger numbers, potentially surpassing the two million mark again in a calendar year.

In preparation for the regular autumn maintenance, scheduled from 9 to 27 October, the cable car to Petřín will undergo necessary repairs and replacements, including the pulling rope.

Additionally, given the hill’s instability, DPP and structural engineers continuously monitor its movement and assess its impact on the track.

A brief history of the Petřín Funicular

The Petřín funicular railway began operation on 25 July 1891. It used a water-balance propulsion system and ceased operating in 1916 in connection with the First World War.

The current longer line opened in 1932 with an electrical propulsion system, a different track gauge and completely new equipment, and operated throughout the Second World War. In 1965, due to landslides in the Petřín area and the loss of its track, the service had to be suspended.

It took 27 years for the restoration of the line (1985), at which time the service became part of the regular public transport system.