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Unplanned tram disruptions in Wrocław: a spatial and cartographic analysis Cover

Unplanned tram disruptions in Wrocław: a spatial and cartographic analysis

Open Access
|Jan 2026

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Causes of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019
Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław.
Causes of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019 Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław.

Figure 2.

Monthly distribution of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019
Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław
Monthly distribution of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019 Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław

Figure 3.

Weekly distribution of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019
Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław
Weekly distribution of unplanned tram stoppages in Wrocław in 2019 Source: own elaboration based on data provided by the Road and City Maintenance Authority in Wrocław

Figure 4.

Track condition in Wrocław in 2020
Source: own elaboration
Track condition in Wrocław in 2020 Source: own elaboration

Figure 5.

Tram derailments in Wrocław in 2019
Source: own elaboration
Tram derailments in Wrocław in 2019 Source: own elaboration

Figure 6.

Proportion of unplanned stoppages related to track condition in 2019 in Wrocław, categorized by track condition classification
Source: own elaboration
Proportion of unplanned stoppages related to track condition in 2019 in Wrocław, categorized by track condition classification Source: own elaboration

Classification of unplanned tram stoppages in selected Polish cities

CityClassification BasisNumber of Main Categories
WarsawIncident types; categories are treated equally without assigning responsibility16
KrakówBased on responsibility: third-party fault, city infrastructure fault, or operator fault3 (with subtypes)
PoznańResponsibility-based with detailed subcategories under three main groups: vehicle-related, driver-related, and external causes3 (with multiple subtypes)

Comparison of the condition of tracks in 2018–2020 (Wilczyńska et al_ 2024)

State201820202020 (aggregation)Difference
Very good58%5.43%11%−47%
Good-5.92%--
Average31%54.68%55%+24%
Bad11%33.97%34%+23%

Classification of unplanned tram stoppages in Poznań

Related to the VehicleRelated to the OperatorExternal Causes
Technical fault in the pantograph contact stripAccident involving pedestrians/cyclists/other road usersAccident involving foreign vehicles in the track or its gauge
Pantograph actuator malfunction; pantograph structural damage (breakage)Accident involving passengersBlocking the track gauge by a badly parked vehicle
Converter malfunction – no charging of the tram batteryVehicle accident with injuredPower outage – no voltage in the DC network
DerailmentNegative sobriety test of the operator on the routeOverhead contact system damage
Collision with another vehicleFainting of the driver, feeling unwellFlooding of tracks after heavy rainfall
Vehicle controller and master controller (drive controller) failureVehicle halted on a section insulator – battery-powered departure not possible. / Failure of the sectional power converter – no possibility to leave from the batteryFrozen water in rails or switches – no possibility of passage
Failure – axle seizureVehicle entering a closed section of track – track work Power outage in the overhead contact system due to planned tram network outages - the driver’s lack of knowledge about planned tram network shutdownsOther obstacles lying on the tracks: sand, stones, tree branches, shed, advertisement, etc
Damage to hinges/cardan wheels threatening derailment Damage to track rails caused by their wear, threatening derailment
Broken rail brake Unplanned stop of another tram within the junction
Unplanned stop of the preceding tram
Disruptions in tram traffic related to unplanned difficulties in the city: marches, events, emergency services, fire brigade, building supervision, etc.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2025-0030 | Journal eISSN: 2084-6118 | Journal ISSN: 0867-6046
Language: English
Submitted on: Jan 12, 2025
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Accepted on: May 19, 2025
|
Published on: Jan 14, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Izabela Wilczyńska, Joanna Gac, published by Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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