The Skoda Group will deliver 23 electric units to RegioJet, the largest private railway carrier in Central Europe.
The fleet will consist of 15 trains with two cars, and eight trains with three cars. The trains will enter service by the end of 2026, serving passengers in the Ústí nad Labem region in north-western Czech Republic.
The ambitious project aims to cover 3.3 million kilometres each year for 15 years, which will mark a substantial increase in capacity.
Jan Švehla, Head of Group Communications at Škoda Group, said:
“We believe that this purchase is a fantastic symbol of rail transport’s continued growth as one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around.”
The low-floor trains are designed to operate on suburban and regional lines, and will be able of running at up to 160 km/h. The two-car unit will be 53 metres long with 142 seats, while three three-car unit will be 80 metres long with 228 seats.
Radim Jančura, owner of RegioJet, said: “We are proud to announce this historic investment, which will not only significantly expand our capacity, but also take the standards of comfort, safety, and environmental sustainability of our services to a whole new level. We plan to invest more than CZK 4.5 billion (£155 million) in our fleet this year and next.”
The new electric units are fitted with advanced safety features and technology, including ETCS equipment.
The interior will also be fully air-conditioned, with Wi-Fi, power sockets, ergonomic seats and a spacious storage area for bicycles and prams, putting passenger experience first.
Image credit: iStock
