Czech railway news – Page 7
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NewsAutonomous train trials and green power planned at Velim test track
CZECH REPUBLIC: The VUZ railway research institute has announced plans for investment to facilitate the testing of autonomous urban and suburban trains at the Velim test centre, and measures to lower the site’s emissions and produce green hydrogen for fuelling trains. ‘We ...
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NewsTwo Czech electrification schemes completed
CZECH REPUBLIC: Two wiring projects were completed on the national network in September, totalling 38 route-km. On September 9, infrastructure manager SŽ completed wiring of the 29 km single-track line from Olomouc to Uničov. The line is energised at 3 kV DC, but with provision for ...
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NewsBrno – Blansko upgrading starts
CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastructure manager SŽ has launched a long-planned modernisation of a section of Corridor 1 from Brno northwards along the River Svitava to Blansko. The work will require a complete closure of the double-track electrified main line for one year from December 12. Local trains ...
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NewsCzech infrastructure manager buys Vectron prototype to power test train
CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastructure manager SŽ has purchased pre-production Vectron MS electric locomotive 193 901 from Siemens Mobility for KC72·95m to operate diagnostic test trains in the Czech Republic and abroad. Built in 2010, the 6 400 kW multi-system locomotive with a top speed of 200 km/h ...
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Metro Report InternationalPlzeň tram delivered
CZECH REPUBLIC: Škoda Transportation has delivered the first of two ForCity Smart X34 (40T) trams ordered by Plzeň operator PMDP, and test running is planned to get underway in August. In September 2018 Škoda Transportation was the sole bidder for a contract to supply trams to ...
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In depthCentral & Eastern Europe: Rail at heart of recovery package
Railways across central and eastern Europe stand to benefit as member states submit their national post-Covid recovery plans to the EU in order to access temporary stimulus funds. Toma Bačić provides a snapshot of proposals from five countries.
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NewsBrno selects ‘grand and human, monumental and tangible’ design for new main station
CZECH REPUBLIC: The city of Brno has selected a team of Benthem Crouwel Architects and urban design company West 8 as the winner of an international competition to design a new main station in the Trnitá urban redevelopment area. Completion is envisaged in 2032-35 at a ...
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Metro Report InternationalPraha awards first Line D construction contract
CZECH REPUBLIC: Construction of Praha metro Line D is expected to get underway next year, following the award of the civil works contract for the most challenging section of the 10·6 km route. Once completed, Line D will run from Náměstí Míru to Depo Písnice, serving ...
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Metro Report InternationalPraha tram extension parallels urban development
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha city transport operator DPP has begun construction of Phase 1 of an extension of the Hlubočepy – Sídliště Barrandov tram line to Slivenec in the southwest of the capital. The extension is mainly outside the existing conurbation, and is being built in co-ordination ...
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NewsOrlík bridge replacement contractor selected
CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastructure manager Správa Železnic has selected Metrostav for a Kc544m contract to replace the Orlík bridge near Červená nad Vltavou. The current bridge opened in 1889 and limits the maximum weight of the trains on the 59·8 km Tábor – Písek line. The new ...
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NewsNight train start-ups European Sleeper and Moonlight Express join forces
EUROPE: Night train start-up companies European Sleeper and Moonlight Express have decided to join forces rather than develop competing initiatives to launch overnight services from Belgium and the Netherlands. On June 16 the companies said they would work together under the European Sleeper brand to launch ...
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NewsVia Vindobona deal promises 4 h Berlin – Wien timing
GERMANY: Plans for a dramatic acceleration of inter-city passenger services between the capital cities of Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria were outlined at the third German Rail Summit held virtually on May 17. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer highlighted plans agreed by the three countries in ...
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NewsAutomation test track takes shape
CZECH REPUBLIC: AŽD Praha has installed the first regional variant of its GateSWing GTA-100 level crossing protection system as part of a project to develop a test track for autonomous train operation under the Shift2Rail programme and the future Europe’s Rail JU. Intended specifically as a low-cost ...
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NewsRegioJet wins tendered operating contract
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Ministry of Transport has selected RegioJet for a contract for to operate R23 fast passenger services on the 135 km electrified line between Kolín and Ústí nad Labem-západ. The contract announced on March 30 runs for eight years from the December 2021 timetable ...
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NewsČD orders 230 km/h push-pull trainsets
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator České Dráhy has selected a consortium of Siemens Mobility and Škoda Transportation to supply new rolling stock for its inter-city and international services.
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NewsGW Train Regio to operate Šumava mountain routes
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Plzeň regional authority has awarded GW Train Regio a contract for the operation of local passenger services on two lines in the Šumava mountains totalling 99 route-km. The private operator beat a bid from state-owned incumbent ČD. The public service obligation contract announced ...
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Metro Report InternationalInterurban tramway upgrade begins
CZECH REPUBLIC: Work has begun on a major project to modernise the infrastructure on the 10 km interurban light railway linking the towns of Most and Litvínov with a large petrochemical complex in Ústí nad Labem region, close to the German border. Intended to reduce journey ...
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NewsRENFE to take stake in Leo Express in support of internationalisation strategy
EUROPE: Spanish national operator RENFE has announced its intention to acquire a 50% stake in central European open access operator Leo Express. RENFE said it sees a strategic opportunity to develop international business activities as Spain’s domestic market opens to competition. The proposed acquisition announced on ...
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NewsČD signs framework contract for 160 Pesa regional DMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator České Dráhy and Polish manufacturer Pesa Bydgoszcz have signed a KC14·5bn framework agreement for the supply of up to 160 regional diesel multiple-units, with a firm order worth almost KC3bn for an initial 33 units. The 120 km/h low-floor DMUs will be ...
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Metro Report InternationalOlomouc tram extension goes ahead
CZECH REPUBLIC: The city of Olomouc has awarded a consortium of OHL ŽS and IDS Olomouc of a contract to build a 1·3 km extension of tram routes 3 and 5 to connect Nové Sady with the Povel housing estate in the southwest. The estimated cost ...