Tatra T5

The Tatra T5 was a Czechoslovakian tramcar developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s by ČKD Tatra. Designed as a potential successor to the successful Tatra T3, the T5 featured a boxier, more angular design compared to its predecessor. The vehicle employed a new electrical system using thyristors for traction control, a departure from the older resistor-based systems.

The development of the T5 was ultimately halted after only a small number of prototypes were produced. Several factors contributed to this outcome, including technical challenges associated with the new electrical system, increased production costs, and political decisions favoring the continued production of the T3. While the T5 never entered mass production or widespread service, it served as an important stepping stone in the development of later Tatra tram designs and influenced the evolution of tram technology in Czechoslovakia and other Eastern Bloc countries. The prototypes were tested in various cities, including Prague, and the experience gained from these trials helped inform the development of subsequent tram models.