PRIVATE operator RegioJet has been selected by Prague Integrated Transport (PID) to operate two suburban railway services in the Czech capital.
RegioJet will operate Line S49 Rotoky u Prahy - Prague Libeň - Prague Hostivař, and the new Line S61, which will connect Prague Vršovice and Prague Běchovice. Upgrades to this line are underway and will be completed ahead of the start of operation in December 2024. Trains will operate at half hourly intervals on weekdays and hourly on weekends and bank holidays.
RegioJet will order a new fleet of seven low-floor EMUs for the services and the company is reportedly in the final stages of ordering the bi-voltage (25kV ac and 3kV dc) vehicles, which will be equipped with ETCS, with the contract expected to be awarded in early 2022.
The operator overcame rival bids from Czech Railways (ČD) and current operator Arriva Vlaky to win the contract. RegioJet made the lowest priced offer at Koruna 162m ($US 7.2m), which PID says is around a third cheaper than its expectations for the contract.
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