SIEMENS signed a €26·5m contract on June 22 to supply Czech Railways with 12 air-conditioned WLABmz 200 km/h sleeping cars which will be used on international services to Italy, Switzerland and Germany from November 2006.

Financed by INGLease, the vehicles will be built at Siemens' SKV Praha-Zlicin plant. They will have 12 three-bed compartments, with internal doors allowing adjacent pairs to be connected. Each of the three first class compartments will have a shower, wash basin and vacuum toilet, and the remaining nine standard class compartments will be equipped with built-in wash basins.

'With the new cars, we want to gain a larger share in international transport and get actively engaged in the network of comfortable overnight trains', said Josef Bazala, CD Director-General. n