České dráhy has put into a regular operation all six wheelchair-accessible Desiro Classic DMUs for Ústí nad Labem Region. These units have passed the approval procedures at the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and can be operated in both the Czech Republic and Germany.
“I am glad to see that passengers on the Czech – German border area can use modern regional carriages like the Desiro units. The experience coming from abroad shows that these trains are very reliable and high-quality units and that these diesel units will undoubtedly improve the culture of travelling on the U8 line. We will also invest in their further modernisation, when they are to be retrofitted with USB connectors for assurance of power supply for travel electronics of passengers and an on-board Wi-Fi network,” says Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of České dráhy.
Last year, České dráhy purchased altogether six Desiro train sets from the German carrier “Hessische Landesbahn”. The Siemens Desiro Classic trains represent one of the most widely used types of diesel multiple units in Europe, which are used by railway carriers in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Denmark or Greece.
They offer passengers low-floor interior premises and wheelchair-accessible travelling. The train compartments are air-conditioned and feature modern interiors. The sanitary installations are equipped with a closed-circuit system and are adapted for wheelchair passengers. The diesel multiple units can offer also space for prams, bicycles and other large luggage.
The Desiro Classic diesel multiple units are two-cell train sets with three bogies, two of which being driven bogies. The length of the units is 42 metres and about 60% of the floor space is available in a low-floor design. The operating weight of the Desiro diesel multiple units is 88 tonnes, the power output is 2× 275 KW or 2× 360 KW respectively, depending on the engine type, and the maximum speed of the train set is 120 km/h.
The Desiro Classic DMUs for Ústí nad Labem Region will operate the routes from Děčín via Benešov nad Ploučnicí, Česká Kamenice and Jedlová, including the Czech-German U 28 line from Děčín to Rumburk via Bad Schandau and Sebnitz.
“The purchase of six Desiro Classic wheelchair-accessible units represents a successful model for bringing higher quality even to less busy regional lines. The purchase of suitable second-hand trainsets from abroad and their subsequent modernisation enables us to provide the clients ordering public transport services and, above all, the passengers with comfortable trains at a lower cost than when purchasing completely new vehicles. When making such purchases, we always want to ensure that the vehicles are well-proven and wheelchair accessible,” says Jiří Ješeta, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director for Passenger Transport at České dráhy.
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