The Slovak state-owned rail passenger operator ZSSK and a consortium of Škoda Transportation and ŽOS Trnava signed a contract for the supply of nine 4-car RegioPanter EMUs with an option for 11 additional trains. EUR 170 million (CZK 4.3 billion) is the value of the contract.
The first nine trains will be delivered by the end of 2023 and will run at a speed of 160 km/h on the railway network of Košice and Prešov regions. The ordered trains will join the existing units bringing the rolling stock fleet to 34 electric multiple units. If the option is exercised, the fleet will grow to 45 electric trains.
“Eastern Slovakia needs new trains as the ones running in Žilina [north-western] and its surrounding areas, where similar trains have reliably traveled 1.15 million train kilometers,” Roman Koreň, the Chairman of the Board ZSSK said.
The new electric multiple units will have a length of 106 metres and a capacity of 343 seats, providing classic arrangement. They will be equipped with vending machine, a ticket vending machine, and the interior can be adapted to provide more space for bicycles, skis, and other sports equipment.
The new EMUs will be adapted to disabled passengers and will offer barrier-free boarding for all passengers. The wide boarding door together with the fully continuous modern interior without interior doors will enable fast and smooth movement of passengers. Boarding the vehicle will be possible on most standard platforms with a height of 550 mm directly without the need for stairs. For other platforms, boarding will be secured with the help of sliding stairs.
The trains will be fitted with electrical outlets, air conditioning, LED lighting, and also offer an improved camera system, a modern information system with monitors and also high-performance Wi-Fi.
As in the previous order for 25 EMUs, the production will take place in ŽOS Trnava which will build the intermediate coaches, and Škoda Transportation will be responsible for the construction of the driving vehicles, marshal the trains into the final formation and will perform all the needed tests. Škoda will be also responsible for the commissioning of the trains before handing over to ZSSK.
Currently, 20 RegioPanter EMUs are operating on Slovakia’s rail network and another 5 will be put into operation by the end of this year.
Share on:
