Czech Republic: National operator ČD has named the domestic manufacturer as the winner of the framework competition launched last spring for the supply of up to 133 trains and 30 years of maintenance.
The initial procurement price stands at CZK 84.5 bln excluding VAT, or almost €3.5 bln. Škoda Group bid CZK 36.4 bln (€1.5 bln) to deliver the firm portion of 66 trainsets and maintain them for 15 years.
Four manufacturers took part, according to Zdopravy. Switzerland’s Stadler finished a close second, followed by Germany’s Siemens Mobility and France’s Alstom. The contract will be signed once the appeal period expires, and EU funds will help finance the purchase.
The order calls for dual-system low-floor EMUs up to 106 m long, with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. Each interior must seat at least 380 passengers in first and second class and provide space for prams or bicycles. The first trainsets are due to enter service in December 2030 on routes in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. The new fleet will supplement and partly replace the double-deck CityElefant trains (Class 471) that Škoda Group built between 1997 and 2013.
At the end of 2024, the Czech manufacturer completed a long-term contract with the delivery of the last of 110 two- and three-car RegioPanter trains (pictured), four of which are battery-powered units. These trains meet the new requirements in terms of speed and double-system design.
