České dráhy Supervisory Board and the Steering Committee approved the acquisition of 160 vehicles for long-distance and regional trains valuated at CZK 20 billion (EUR 782.5 million). The operator will purchase 90 carriages and 31 electric units for long-distance transport, 30 electric and 8 motor units for regional transport and 5 non-traction push-pull sets for regional transport. České dráhy intends to sign seven public contracts for the new rolling stock acquisition.
“České dráhy would like to organise seven public contracts for deliveries of tens of new vehicles, if possible still by the end of this year,” the company said.
The operator will sign the general agreements with winners of the tenders and will only purchase the vehicles in the case that it acquires a part of the means necessary for their purchase from the Operational Programme for Transport II, or if it makes agreements with the entities contracting transport services with regard to settlement of costs associated with their introduction.
České dráhy currently deals with the business model after 2019, when a part of long-term contracts made with the regions and the state will end. The number of vehicles enquired is based on negotiations conducted with individual regions and on published intents of the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic within the framework of the process of opening of the long-distance transport market.
“If we want to succeed in the competition fight, we must be prepared for fulfillment of the wishes of contracting entities. Thanks to general agreements we will already have suppliers selected in advance, and if we are awarded the transport service contracts, we will be able to order production of new vehicles at once. This means that we will save time and we will provide our customers with better quality much sooner. At the same time we will be able to draw subsidy means from the Operational Programme for Transport II, intended for renewal of rolling stock in regional transport. Of course, we are ready for the co-financing of the purchase,” said Miroslav Kupec, Member of the Board of Directors of ČD.
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