In the Czech Republic, rolling stock production is synonymous to the name ŠKODA. The Pilsen-based manufacturer is one of the most renowned Czech brands in the world. In 2009, the company celebrated 150 years of existence and, on this occasion, they unveiled an ambitious development program. ŠKODA products are very popular even on the American continent, where the group managed to reintroduce trams in the public transport system of the US. The company plans to conquer once again the East-European markets, which were lost after the fall of the communist bloc. In the field of transport industry, ŠKODA has made huge steps on the East-European markets, winning contracts for the supply of trams, electric or diesel units and trolleys in Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia. A traditional sector in which the Czech manufacturer continues to invest in terms of developing new technologies is electric traction. Recently, ŠKODA launched a range of products which covers all the requirements of railway operators, from short-distance double-deckers to high-speed locomotives for Intercity trains. Many operators from outside the Czech Republic have already ordered similar platforms.
On May 28, 2010, the Czech manufacturer unveiled the first of 10 electric units Series 671, designed especially for the national Slovakian operator Zeleznicna Spolocnost Slovensko (ZSSK). The event was held at Zilina station. Robert Fico, Slovakian Prime Minister at the time, also attended this event.
The inaugural trains made a test run along Zilina-Varin railway section. During the first visit of the 671 electric unit in Slovakia, the energy consumption of the vehicle was tested. Afterwards, the vehicle returned to the testing ring in Velim. In May, ŠKODA launched a series production and at the end of June, the wagons of the 671 electric unit were ready for final assembly.
The contract for the supply of 10 electric units for Slovakian Railways was awarded to ŠKODA VAGONKA in December 2008. The vehicles will include three units and they will operate on the regional and suburban routes between Trencin, Zilina and Kosice. Series 671 is part of the last generation of CityElefant. One of the innovations brought by these vehicles is the electric traction which can run on several types of networks (3kV, 25kV and 50HZ). The units can be coupled and the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
This is the second foreign order of CityElefant trains won by ŠKODA. The first order was honoured in the fall of 2008, when ŠKODA delivered 4 double-deck electric units Series 575 to the national Lithuanian operator, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (LG). The contract of the EJ 575 units for Lithuania was signed in 2006, the electric units being in operation since 2008. ŠKODA will also attend this year’s edition of Innotrans, held in Berlin. The Series 575 vehicles have 3 units and they were introduced on the Vilnius-Kaunas route. The contract includes an option for the future acquisition of other similar units.
60 CityElefant units have been running for a long time in the Czech Republic. The contract was signed for 75 such units. A typical CityElefant vehicle is made up of 3 units (80m in length, 4.6m in height and 158 tonnes in weight). The trains are duplex and they have a total capacity of 632 passengers, of which 310 seats and 23 first-class. The interior can be customized upon the customers’ request. ŠKODA gives special attention to both the interior and exterior design of its vehicles. The company worked with famous design studios like Porsche Design, who designed the exterior of the trams that operate in Prague and who participates frequently in the design process of the company’s vehicles.
The first ŠKODA Push-Pull trains
Based on the CityElefant platform, ŠKODA VAGONKA developed the first push-pull trains ever designed by the company. At the end of May 2010, the company finalized the assembly of the Series 951 vehicles. The first contract was signed with ZSSK, for the delivery of 10 push-pull trains. ŠKODA used the latest technology for these cars. For instance, the front of the driving car was made of a composite material delivered by MOSLED. Most of the suppliers of raw materials who work with ŠKODA are local companies or foreign subsidiaries owned by the holding. This places ŠKODA among the few industrial integrators in Europe who can boast with the fact that they do their own design and that they incorporate locally developed technologies and innovations. Series 951 is designed for a capacity of 102 seats in the driving car and 130 in the intermediary wagons. The wagons are compatible with ETCS systems. The trains are equipped with electro-pneumatic braking in the driving car and the intermediary bogies will be fitted with magnetic rail braking. The empty 3-unit vehicle has a weight of 144 tonnes, and the maximum axle weight is 18 tonnes.
The first foreign order for the 109E high-speed locomotive
In regards to the locomotive offer, the most renowned is 109E. Ceske Drahy ordered 20 such locomotives in April 2004. Recently, ŠKODA received the first foreign offer for 109E. ZSSK ordered two such locomotives, which will be delivered until 2012. Unlike the traction vehicles Series 380 ordered by CD, the Slovakian locomotives Series 381 have a limited speed of 160 km/h due to a special software and are equipped with video data transfer devices from the push-pull trains and an installation for measuring the energy consumption. Series 381 will be homologated for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. Series 381 is equipped with Triple-Voltage (it can operate at 25kV, 15kV and 3kV). 109E has been labelled by CEO Tomas Krsek as a locomotive for the 3rd millennium. The traction vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 220 km/h. The design was made by Porsche Design. The locomotive complies with all the interoperability requirements and has, according to ŠKODA engineers, 10.000 electric connections and approx. 30 km of wires. The locomotive was designed based on the characteristics of the railway networks in Central and Eastern Europe. The company plans to obtain service certification for Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. 109E has successfully passed the tests regulating the level of noise generated in accordance with the European TSI Conventional Rail Noise regulations. The ŠKODA prototype recorded the lowest level of noise when it comes to a full stop, therefore being the most silent electric locomotive in Europe. An advantage brought by the design of the locomotive is the highly resistant body case. The front of the vehicle which includes the control cabin and the engine room is fitted with deformed shock absorption sections in case of impact. Tests show that the 109E can resist an impact with a 15 tonne auto train at a speed of 110 km/h.
Interview with Olesea Lachi, Development Manager at SKODA Transportation Romania
Railway Pro: What is the company’s strategy for the rolling stock market in Russia and the CIS region?
Olesea Lachi: SKODA’s strategy is the same as it ever was, with no territorial restrictions: to deliver products at the best price/quality ratio, to consolidate our position as a leading European rolling stock manufacturer and to diversify our range of products and services.
Railway Pro: How would you rate the demand on the East-European market during these times of economic crisis?
Olesea Lachi: At this time we cannot rate the demand in Eastern Europe; we should more likely rate the potential of these markets. We are aware of the fact that in the last 20 years the market favoured second-hand acquisitions and rolling stock rehabilitation and this is absolutely normal. We hope that, from now on, the market will begin to favour the acquisition of new rolling stock. We have not been affected by the economic crisis. In fact, we have signed new contracts, we participate in tenders. As far as we are concerned, everything is the same.
by Alin Lupulescu
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