This year, Czech Railways (ČD) will focus on improving comfort and quality in long-distance transport aiming at introducing into traffic 14 of the total 20 ordered new trains, as part of its rolling stock renewal programme.
“Throughout the year, we will begin reconfiguring the ComfortJet trains into 9-railcars and introduce them on routes from Prague to Brno and further to Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. This will allow us to shift modern EuroCity and InterCity carriages to other domestic routes. By the end of the year, we will also put into operation the first of a total of 50 brand new Siemens Vectron locomotives, specially modified for speeds of up to 230 km/h,” the CEO of ČD, Michal Krapinec, said. In addition, the carrier will deploy more than two dozen RegioFox diesel multiple units on regional routes.
The procurement of 180 new railcars and 20 electric locomotives as well as the modernisation of the existing fleet is financed by a EUR 300 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). In 2021, the consortium comprising Siemens Mobility and Škoda Group won a EUR 500 million contract to supply 20 nine-car trainsets (180 carriages) with 555 seats and capability to operate at 230 km/h.
The fast pace of train replacement and on-board improvement services will also continue this year. The state-owned operator will introduce more trains in long-distance transport, such as the ComfortJet trainsets which will feature a final 9-car configuration with a new-generation dining car. By the end of 2025, the first Vectron locomotives, capable of speeds up to 230 km/h, will also arrive in the Czech Republic. There will also be improvements in internet connectivity on trains, thanks to the installation of mobile signal repeaters and laser-treated windows. Additionally, Czech Railways will begin testing the use of high-speed Starlink internet from SpaceX in the spring.
“České dráhy has had a record-breaking successful year, marked by a significant increase in the quality of the transport services provided, both on long-distance routes and regional ones, where dozens of new electric trains, such as the RegioPanter, and RegioFox diesel multiple units were deployed. This has enhanced the comfort of travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers on their travel to work, school, and so on,” the Minister of Transport, Martin Kupka, said.
The investments in modern service facilities are an important part of Czech Railways’ strategy to ensure the continued efficiency and reliability of their services. Following the construction of new repair halls in Cheb and Havlíčkův Brod last year, a new service hall will be built at the depot in České Budějovice, and the renovation of service facilities in Olomouc will begin throughout the year. The new service facilities in České Budějovice and Olomouc will help maintain and repair the growing fleet of modern trains, ensuring that they stay in optimal condition for passengers.
In May 2024, the company announced an investment of CZK 12 billion (EUR 478.5 million) to modernise, expand its maintenance facilities, as well as build new ones. Three halls located in Havlíčkův Brod, Cheb and České Budějovice will be constructed and in 2027 will be operational. In Cheb, the construction of a new repair hall started in May 2024 and is progressing according to the schedule. The new facility will accommodate InterJet long-distance units and RegioPanter and RegioShark regional trainsets. In addition, the company will invest EUR 60 million until 2031 for the procurement of machinery and equipment.
The improvements in voice and data services will definitely enhance the travel experience for passengers on long-distance trains. With the installation of 5G repeaters and the upcoming Starlink satellite internet testing, passengers can expect faster and more reliable connectivity during their journeys. This is a big step toward making train travel more comfortable and convenient, especially for those who rely on their mobile devices for work or entertainment while traveling.
“We have begun installing 5G mobile signal repeaters in Pendolino, Railjet, and InterPanter trains. I believe that in the near future, we will also succeed in finding a contractor for the laser treatment of windows to facilitate mobile signal penetration in more than 200 railway vehicles,” the CEO of ČD said.
In December ČD selected the consortium of ČD – Telematika and Kontron Transportation to deliver and install the 5G mobile technology on these three types of trains with work expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A prototype Starlink antenna designed for use on trains from the USA is expected to arrive in Czechia this month and in Spring, ČD will begin testing Starlink satellite internet from SpaceX in one of our InterPanter units. “Czech Railways will be one of the first users in the world to test this antenna. “According to our internal surveys, more and more of our customers perceive Czech Railways as a modern and innovative company. Therefore, our goal is to meet these expectations and continue to strengthen our position as a technological leader among domestic railway operators,” Michal Krapinec explained.
The carrier is also planning new updates for its popular Můj vlak mobile app which will have a modernised graphical interface, and actions will continue for the integration of regional transport systems and public transit, with the added option for direct ticket purchases. The app will also be enhanced with a travel guide feature, which will clearly display the necessary information for the journey. This update will make it even easier for passengers to plan their trips and stay informed during their journeys.
New rolling stock is already operating
Last year, Czech Railways put into operation last year a total of 144 brand-new electric, motor, and non-traction units, as well as electric locomotives, worth nearly CZK 19 billion (EUR 757.5 million), a record in terms of rolling stock renewal and modernisation.
In 2024, ČD put into commercial operation eight two-car RegioPanter EMUs, 46 three-car RegioPanter EMUs and 56 RegioFox diesel multiple units and battery trains entered operation. For long-distance services, the carrier introduced ComfortJet trains and 22 Vectron locomotives.
“In total, this amounts to 22,000 seats in modern, barrier-free trains with air conditioning, sockets and Wi-Fi and all the standard that belongs to rail travel in the 21st century. We will continue to modernise our trains this year as well. At the beginning of this year, the average age of traction vehicles and units in the Czech Railways fleet dropped to 17 years. In addition, we see that when we have deployed new trains, the number of passengers is also increasing. We will have the exact numbers for the number of passengers transported last year available in the coming months, but it is already clear that we have transported 4 million more passengers year-on-year,” the CEO of ČD, Michal Krapinec, said.
Czech Railways will operate approximately 2.4 million connections during the yearly validity of the timetable, covering around 119 million kilometers. The average daily number of trains is 6,605 units. Thanks to the modernisation of trains, there has been an increase in the number of services, such as 439 barrier-free connections, 798 connections with onboard Wi-Fi, and 1,430 trains equipped with electric outlets, compared to the previous year.
In addition, České dráhy has deployed on-board ETCS in 422 of its units, while the new ordered trains including RegioFox DMUs, RegioPanter EMUs and Vectron locomotives will have the new control system already installed. These vehicles, equipped with the latest control technology, will enter onto lines which are also operating exclusively with ETCS. This month the rail infrastructure manager, Správa železnic, started the exclusive ETCS operation on four lines, totalling 622 km. This work is being carried out in stages, with various lines at different phases of development. Czechia aims to deploy trackside ETCS across its entire TEN-T network by 2030, covering nearly 5,200 kilometers of railway lines, significantly enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and interoperability with neighboring countries’ rail systems.
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