Czechia: The private operator RegioJet has started a four-month trial of the Sirius EMUs on the route between Kolín and Ústí nad Labem. The second train is reportedly parked in a depot in case the first one breaks down.
The vehicle was to be CRRC’s debut in the EU multiple unit market. More than seven years ago, in September 2016, the Czech operator Leo Express signed a contract for the delivery of three Sirius EMUs, with an option for 30 more. Delays in deliveries and certification led the company to terminate the contract in 2022. The trains are not certified for commercial operation. Their manufacturer has only been able to obtain a temporary operating permit and is continuing to seek certification.
According to CRRC, one in five parts of the Sirius are manufactured in the Czech Republic. The 111.5 m six-car aluminium-bodied train can carry 300 passengers and run on DC and AC lines at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
