Poznań Fast Tram

Poznań Fast Tram (Polish: Poznański Szybki Tramwaj, PST, informally: PeSTka, pestka – drupe, stone fruit) is a 8.1 km (5.0 mi) stretch of grade-separated tram/light rail line of the tram system in Poznań, Poland.

The PST, opened in 1997, links the densely populated northern districts of Winogrady and Piątkowo with the city center.

Neither technology nor the budget allowed for a construction of such a tram line, and metro, would have been too ambitious and unnecessary, so the plans were shelved.

This, combined with limited and paid parking space in the center, contributed to the huge success of the line, with overcrowding at peak times.

The tracks originally served three routes, in 1999, a fourth one was added, reaching the limits of the lines capacity with trams run every 2.5 minutes at peak times.

The extension was opened in 2013 with its own turning loop, which allows for operating longer trams sets that could partially alleviate congestion.

As the program had proved successful, another new tram line started in early 2005, connecting the city center with eastern district of Rataje.