Czech Railways: Train renewal in Moravian-Silesian region
Czech Railways prepares major train renewal in the Moravian-Silesian Region
České dráhy management and Moravian-
Silesian Region officials signed a new ten-
year contract for regional railway tran-
sport in the region. "The contract for the
Ostrava operating unit, which includes
most of the lines in the region, will start
this December. It will bring a number of
innovations to passengers that will increa-
se the comfort of travel and the competi-
tiveness of rail compared to individual car
transport. For example, battery trains will
have their premiere on Czech railways
next year. In total, we aim to invest nearly
four billion crowns in new trains in the
Moravian-Silesian Region in the coming
years," says Michal Krapinec, Chairman of
the Board of Directors and CEO of ČD.
The ceremonial event included a tour
of the RegioPanter electric unit at Ostra-
va Střed station. This will be comple-
mented by another four railway sets by
the end of the year. They will run on the
line between Bohumín and Hranice na
Moravě and also between Ostrava-Svi-
nov and Ostrava-Kunčice. "These are
modern barrier-free electric trains with
a maximum speed of 160 km/h. They
offer spacious air-conditioned interiors,
comfortable seats, Wi-Fi connectivity,
and passengers can charge their mobi-
le phones and other small electronics.
The units also have sufficient space for
wheelchair users, prams and bicycles,"
says Jiří Ješeta, member of the Board of
Directors and Deputy Director General
of ČD for Passenger Transport.
Train deliveries will continue next year
with the arrival of another four RegioPan-
ter electric units. In this case, these sets
will be retrofitted with battery cells (similar
to BEMU vehicles) as requested by the re-
gional administration. The Moravian-Sile-
sian Region is intensively addressing the
use of alternative drives and sustainable
public transport and is currently in the
process of awarding a public contract for
another 15 trains (BEMU) in battery mode
with a range of at least 80 kilometres in-
tended for the north of Moravia. Battery
electric units can be deployed on lines
that will combine electrified and non-
electrified lines. Passengers will no longer
have to change between electric and die-
sel trains and will gain a direct connection.
TT ++ TT
Technika a trh 5/2023
34
Czech Railways is preparing a major
renewal of trains in the Moravian-Silesian
Region, with new direct lines in the works
ČD will continue to provide contracted railway transport in the Moravian-Silesian Region
in the coming years, bringing a whole range of innovations to the region. New trains,
including battery trains, will roll on the tracks. New direct lines are also planned,
e.g. between Krnov and Český Těšín and the introduction of the Ostrava ring.
Ilustrační foto
rail transport
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