CZECH national operator ČD began operating services in the South Moravian region with new two and four-car EMUs manufactured by Škoda Transportation on June 22.

The new EMUs are owned by the South Moravian region and operated by ČD under a contract awarded by South Moravian transport authority IDS JMK.

The trains will operate on:

  • Line S2: Křenovice horní nádraží - Brno hlavní nádraží - Letovice
  • Line S3: Hustopeče u Brna/Židlochovice - Brno hlavní nádraží - Tišnov - Křižanov
  • Line S9: Břeclav - Hodonín, and
  • Line S51: Břeclav - Šakvice.

The South Moravian region awarded Škoda a contract in 2019 to supply of 37 low-floor 25kV ac EMUs, including 31 class 530 four-car trains and six class 550 two-car trains, with an option for another 19 trains.

The four-car and two-car trains can each seat 333 and 146 passengers respectively. All trains have a maximum speed of 160km/h, meet European regulations for passengers with reduced mobility and are equipped with ETCS. The fleet was funded with a €223m grant from the European Union Cohesion Fund.

The new trains, named Moravia after the region they are serving, were due to be introduced at the start of the 2023 timetable in December 2022, but were not ready in the time. The Škoda trains will replace ČD class 242 electric locomotives and Bautzen-built coaches. Services are currently operated with a mix of the new fleet and older rolling stock.

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