“The need to build a tram line in this area comes from transport forecasts that show long-term that the current infrastructure here has insufficient capacity,” said Peter Bubla, spokesman for the Bratislava city hall. This highlights the urgent need to improve transport connections to the rapidly developing Bory area.
Why does Bory need a tram?
The Bory area in the western part of Bratislava, where the new hospital and the large shopping center Bory Mall are located, is being actively developed. More than 20,000 residents are expected to live here. Currently, the tram's last stop is at Pri Kríži in Dúbravka, and to get to Bory, you need to transfer to a bus. This puts a significant strain on the existing road infrastructure, which can no longer handle the traffic flow.
According to urban geographer Adrián Hubčo, in Bratislava, unlike Vienna, infrastructure often appears after a city district is built, not before. The new tram line to Bory will become an important part of the city's backbone transport system, which is based on trams, after the successful implementation of the Petržalská radiála.
Project details and timeline
The project involves the construction of almost two kilometers of new tram tracks with four new stops. It will connect the Dúbravka city district with Bory. Construction is expected to begin in three years, after all necessary permits are obtained. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process may take about a year, after which further documentation will be developed. The city of Bratislava has included this project in its strategic transport investments.
Penta Real Estate, in cooperation with the city, submitted the project for environmental impact assessment (EIA) in January 2026. The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately 50 million euros, which is planned to be financed mainly by European funds. Penta Real Estate has already invested over 2 million euros in the preparatory phase of the project, including documentation and land issue settlement. The construction of the tram line is expected in 2029–2030, and the first trams could run to Bory in 2033.
Future transfer hub: uncertainty
The tram line is planned to extend from the current last stop Pri Kríži. At the Stanica Bory stop, passengers could transfer directly to trains, as the Railways of the Slovak Republic (ŽSR) plan a so-called Integrated Passenger Transport Terminal (TIOP Bory) here. However, it is currently unknown whether the tram and train tracks will intersect at this location. ŽSR spokeswoman Petra Lániková stated that ŽSR first needs to study the intention, and it is not possible to provide a relevant statement at this time. She also emphasized that TIOP Bory will not be adapted to the tram line.
Despite this uncertainty, urban geographer Adrián Hubčo believes that the construction of a significant public transport facility acts as a catalyst for further development. Therefore, this tram line will significantly help the further development of Bory.
Expansion of Bory Mall and new MHD stops
In parallel with the plans for the tram line, the Bory area continues to develop. In March 2026, Dopravný podnik Bratislava (DPB) already made changes to the MHD (public transport) schedule, adding new stops in Bory. The routes of bus lines 23 and 30 were adjusted to serve the new stops Mateja Encingera and T. P. Kolakoviča in front of the shopping center.
Also in August 2024, Penta Real Estate submitted documents for environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the expansion project of the Bory Mall shopping center. The expansion includes the creation of a new area between the Bory hospital and Bory Mall, which will replace the existing outdoor parking lot. It is planned to add almost 2400 m² of new leasable space, of which about 2000 m² will be for shops and services, and the rest for food establishments. The construction of the new area will begin together with the sixth phase of the Bory Housing residential project, around 2026. These changes will significantly improve the quality of public spaces in the area, creating a place for meetings, relaxation, and increasing the number of green zones.
