The Slovak Railway Company (ZSSK) signed on Thursday (9/9/2021) the contract with a consortium of Czech Škoda Transportation and the Slovak ŽOS Trnava for the purchase of new electrical train units. Up to 20 new four-car RegioPanters will run in the Košice and Prešov regions. The fleet of these units will thus grow to 45 in Slovakia.
As in the previous order (25 electrical units), the part of the production will take place in ŽOS Trnava, which participates mainly in the final works in wagons, electric revitalization of the units, tests, and preparation for the delivery to the customer.
The first 9 units will be delivered by the end of 2023 and the others according to the following business orders (option). The value of the contract, including the option, is almost EUR 170 million.
“Slovakia has long been a key business partner for us. Passengers already know our units well, of which several types operate here. I am so glad that with each new unit we can show how the level of comfort, safety and sustainability of new trains is shifting, “says Petr Brzezina, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Škoda Transportation Group.
Eastern Slovakia needs new trains as a salt and a good experience with Škoda in Žilina and its neighbourhood, where the very similar trains have reliably made 1.15 million train-kilometres, gives us hope that East Slovaks will not be disappointed,” says Roman Koreň, Chairman of the Board of ZSSK .
“Another order for new trains confirms that our company has become a long-term and reliable partner of Škoda Transportation. In a consortium with it, we produce modern and high-quality trains and passengers are satisfied with them. Of course, we are very pleased to extend the cooperation with a strong partner, “says Miloš Kyselica, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ŽOS Trnava and he adds:” Our cooperation with Škoda Transportation is not limited to Slovakia. In Trnava, we produce 29 separate inserted wagons for electric units EMU 310 for Škoda, which will be delivered to the South Moravian Region, and we are also negotiating the delivery of other inserted wagons,” says Miloš Kyselica, General Manager of ŽOS Trnava.
The form of cooperation of ŽOS Tranva with Škoda Transportation is structured in projects so that Škoda will produce rough constructions of cabinets, chassis, and traction sets, which it will supply to ŽOS Trnava. ŽOS Trnava will also carry out surface treatment, assembly the inserted wagons of EMU310 electrical units and put into life the each of the inserted wagons. Subsequently, the the trains will be transported to the customer.
“Our consortium has already shown the high quality of production and technical solutions in the last order. I am pleased that we will be able to repeat this success and that other Slovak regions will receive our modern units,” added Petr Brzezina.
New RegioPanter electrical units, which build on the currently supplied and successfully operated units. All new four-car units will have a length of 106 m and a capacity of 343 seats. Each wagon of the set will have a classic arrangement of two bogies and each electric unit will always have three drive bogies.
Thanks to this, the sets will have excellent driving characteristics on all electrified lines in Slovakia and will enable reliable adherence to the timetable in demanding winter conditions, with changes based on customer requirements and operational experience that will further increase passenger comfort. This includes, for example, preparation for the installation of a vending machine, ticket machine, or interior modification so that the unit has more space for bicycles, skis, and other sports equipment.
“Passengers will especially appreciate the comfortable seating, electrical outlets, air conditioning, stylish LED interior lighting and equipping the vehicle with a spacious modern toilet accessible to the disabled. The electric units will also offer an improved camera system, a modern information system with monitors and high-performance Wi-Fi. The units will also have enough space for the transport of disabled people, carriages, bicycles, skis, snowboards and will also offer a simple and barrier-free boarding for all passengers, “adds Tomáš Ignačák, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Škoda Transportation Group.
