Prague Takes the 2026 European TramDriver Title in Warsaw
Vendula Tmejová and Zdeněk Rychtář of Prague won the 12th European TramDriver Championship in Warsaw on 19 September 2026.
The title was decided in a one-day contest with 26 teams. The event, officially called TRAM-EM, is held once a year. Organisers set eight tests of precise driving and everyday operating skill. Thousands of people watched in Warsaw, with about 80,000 watching the livestream worldwide, according to The Guardian.
Melbourne's Tramaroos finished second-last, just ahead of London. That put the Australian entry 25th in the 26-team field. Yarra Trams selected Ivan Cavanagh of Southbank depot and Claudia Barrientos of Kew depot to compete under the Tramaroos name.
The format rewards steady results across braking accuracy, stopping precision, speed control and teamwork under timed conditions. Braking accuracy means bringing the tram to a smooth stop at the exact mark. Warsaw hosted the 12th edition. The final field of 26 teams updated an earlier preview of 25 teams from 24 countries.
Australia was the first non-European country invited to take part, in 2022. That invitation linked Melbourne — home to one of the world's largest working tram networks — with the European depot-based competition. Melbourne's continued presence gives a non-European point of comparison in the results table.
The broader context here is continuity rather than surprise. Prague's win fits the record of Central European operators, where dense city networks and depot training shape results. For Melbourne, a low finish does not change its working record at home. It does raise questions about adjusting to unfamiliar trams, track layouts and scoring rules in a single competition day.
Looking to next year, attention turns to Melbourne. The city is due to host the championship in 2027. A home track will change preparation, crowds and logistics. It will also show whether local knowledge closes the gap to the European leaders.
