Arriva Group has signed a 15 – year contract to operate rail services in the Pilsen region’s transport system following a competitive bidding process. This EUR 82.5 million contract marks Arriva’s entry on Czech Republic’s electric rail market.
The contract signing took place at the headquarters of the Regional Authority for the Pilsen Region.
Under the contract, Arriva’s train fleet will expand from December 10, 2023, with nine electric trains serving the Horažďovice, Plzeň to Pňovany route. The trains are two-car Skoda RegioPanter 650 series and are equipped with air conditioning, internet access and charging facilities. In December 2022, České dráhy and has presented the first two new RegioPanter EMUs under a contract signed with Škoda Group for the supply of 79 RegioPanter electric multiple units which are intended to operate on the rail lines of Olomouc, Moravian-Silesian and South Bohemian regions. The new trains are expected to be delivered from 2024.
“I’m delighted that Arriva has been successful in winning this contract. We have demonstrated long-standing success in rail operations in Czech Republic and this win represents a growth story for Arriva and positions us for future growth in electric rail in this market,” Sian Leydon, Managing Director of Mainland Europe for Arriva Group, said.
Following the signing of the contract, the preparatory work for taking over the operation of the line from the incumbent has already begun and Arriva plans to recruit 40 new drivers and conductors, plus a number of other roles in the coming months to ensure it is ready to take over later this year.
Winning this contract, Arriva became the second largest rail transport operator for passenger services in the Pilsen Region, following České dráhy, the state-owned company.
In June 2020, Arriva became the principal bus operator of the Pilsen region’s transport system after won a 10 – year contract which includes the introduction of 315 brand new buses. The new contract is part of a wider re-organisation of transport operations in the Pilsen Region that includes an overhaul of the timetable and a reorganisation of some parts of the network, with due consideration to the impact of coronavirus.
Arriva, owned by Deutsche Bahn (DB), delivers around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 12 European countries. Arriva is also delivering transport services in Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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