The new Traxx MS3 units, the first for use on passenger services, will supplement RegioJet’s existing fleet of four 160km/h Traxx MS2e locomotives and unify its current fleet of multi system locomotives to only consist of Traxx MS units. This will effectively end the requirement for five Siemens class 193 Vectron electric locomotives leased from European Locomotive Leasing (ELL).
Four additional MS2e locomotives are on order while the company has options for 20 more. The latest contract for MS3s also includes “options for additional locomotives” as well as the first application of Bombardier’s new online spare parts ordering tool. The tool offers spare parts delivery commitments and eliminates the need for operators to maintain their own spare parts inventory.
“Aside from increased efficiency and lower operating costs, these new locomotives will also enable us to expand our business offering to our customers across the Central and Eastern Europe region,” says Mr Jiří Schmidt, director of operations, at RegioJet.
RegioJet also operates a fleet of Škoda 3kV dc class 162 locomotives and the company ordered seven Pesa Elf EU 160km/h dual-voltage EMUs to operate services in the Ústí nad Labem area of Northern Bohemia from December 2019.
RegioJet’s demand for new traction is reflected in rising passenger numbers. The company reported a 12% rise in ridership on services through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria in the first half of 2019. Mr Petr Kohoutek, the CFO of Regiojet parent company Student Agency Holding, confirmed in July that the company would purchase an additional 100 coaches to further increase capacity.
