CZECH Railways (ČD) has exercised an option from a framework contract with Polish train manufacturer Pesa Bydgoszcz for 30 additional Regiofox DMUs, taking the number of trains ordered from the contract signed in 2021 to 106 sets.

The new agreement is worth Koruna 3bn ($US 130m) and extends the total investment by ČD in the new regional non-electrified fleet to Koruna 10bn.

The two-car class 847 RegioFox is from Pesa’s Regio 160 platform. The 120km/h train is equipped with two Stage V diesel engines each with a power output of 375kW. As well as diesel, the engines can run on HVO synthetic fuel. The trains will also be fitted with onboard ETCS and GSM-R equipment.

The 44.42m-long trains have 115 seats and are compliant with accessibility standards. They are equipped with a wheelchair-accessible toilet, air-conditioning, on-board Wi-Fi, and systems to support visually impaired and deaf passengers.

Of the latest order, 28 sets will be maintained at the Rákovník depot and serve the non-electrified lines in the west of the Central Bohemian region, replacing class 814 Regionova two and three car DMUs and ageing class 809 and 810 railbuses.

Order

ČD placed a Koruna 2.8bn order with Pesa for 33 Regiofoxes in December 2021 following the initial order for 33 trains in February of that year. A further 10 DMUs were ordered for operation around the Pilsen area at the beginning of this year. The framework agreement includes further options for the supply of up to 160 trains and is worth a total of Koruna 14.5bn.

The first Regiofox DMUs entered service from Prague Smíchov to Beroun via Rudná u Prahy on August 15 and 20 trains are expected to be in service by the end of this year. However, ČD has experienced some teething problems during testing of the new fleet, including complaints of excessive noise, as reported by local media.

Future operation of the latest batch is planned on the Rakovník - Kladno - Kralupy nad Vltavou line as well as the Kralupy nad Vltavou - Slaný - Velvary, Beroun - Zdice - Příbram - Březnice, Zadní Třebán - Lochovice lines and on some other services around Rakovnik.

“Within three years or so, we want to replace the old trains on the Central Bohemian region’s tracks with modern units that will offer the people of Central Bohemia quality transport at the level of the 21st century,” says Mr Petr Borecký, councilor for public transport in the Central Bohemian Region.

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