The Slovakian rail passenger operator ZSSK ordered from Škoda Group five more 4-car low-floor RegioPanter electric units which are expected to be delivered in 2025.
“I am very pleased that we are starting to actually draw down funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic. This is the first ever project under the Ministry of Transport that has signed funding from the Recovery Plan. We want to spend the maximum amount of funds that have been allocated to us and this is the first step towards achieving that goal,” the Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Doležal said after signing the financing agreement with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZSSK, Roman Koreň.
The purchase of these five trains is carried out under the „Modernisation of ŽKV vehicle fleet under the Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure (OPII) – Phase 3“ and will be financed through the from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. EUR 42.3 million is the value of the investment costs.
ZSSK is exercising the option included in the contract for the delivery of 9 electric multiple units with an option for another 11 vehicles, which was signed by ZSSK with the consortium of Škoda Group and ŽOS Trnava in September 2021.
“These five additional electric units are a signal that we are serious about modernising the ZSSK fleet. I am pleased that we are contributing to improving the quality of transport again in the Eastern part of Slovakia, where the first new electric units will soon be available,” Chairman of the Board of ZSSK, Roman Koreň said.
ZSSK plans to deploy the first nine new 4-car trainsets in the Košice and Prešov regions, in the eastern part of the country. They will operate on the railway lines Čierna n/Tisou – Košice – Prešov, Prešov – Košice (line No 188) and Košice – Michaľany – Slovenské Nové Mesto – Čierna n/Tisou (line No 190).
The operator has now decided to exercise part of the option and purchase five more units. This order is a continuation of the successful cooperation between Škoda Group, ŽOS Trnava and Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko. In the past, Škoda together with ŽOS Trnava has produced and delivered 25 trains of the same type to the Slovak operator. Thanks to the new order, the Slovak fleet of RegioPanter EMUs will grow to 39 units.
The RegioPanter electric units are delivered to Slovakia as two-system units, for 3 kV DC or 25 kV 50 Hz with a capacity of 343 seats. They are designed for operation on regional lines with a standard gauge of 1 435 mm and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. They offer passengers a fully air-conditioned, open-plan area with comfortable seats. Power sockets, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an audiovisual information system are also essential features. For fast, safe and comfortable passenger changes, the trains have low-floor boarding and 1,500 mm wide doors. The sets also include multifunctional compartments for disabled passengers, prams or bicycles.
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