All Czech Republic articles
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In depthComment: A waning appetite for competition
While the EU’s third and fourth railway packages sought to liberalise the passenger rail sector within the bloc and influence it beyond, the establishment of a competitive dynamic within the European market seems less assured than it has for some time, argues Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsNew Schwarzenberský Bridge allows higher speeds and train weights
CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastructure manager SŽ has opened a 316 m long reinforced concrete bridge over the Orlík reservoir near Červená nad Vltavou on the Tábor – Písek line. The new Schwarzenberský Bridge replaces a steel structure dating from 1889 which had limited the maximum speed and ...
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In depthInterview: ČD sees fleet renewal opportunity despite ‘tedious’ approval task
Michal Krapinec, Chairman & Director General of Czech national operator České Dráhy, unveils his strategy for developing domestic and international passenger services to Toma Bačić.
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NewsState railways fined for colluding against open access operator
EUROPE: The European Commission has fined the Czech and Austrian national train operators a total of €48·7m for colluding to prevent new entrant RegioJet from acquiring second-hand rolling stock to support its growth in the Czech Republic and on the Praha – Wien route. ...
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NewsComfortJet trainsets deployed on Praha – Berlin route
EUROPE: Czech national operator České Dráhy has begun using ComfortJet long-distance trainsets on the Berliner international service from Praha to Berlin. This follows their entry into service on domestic routes in June. ‘We are symbolically starting a new phase of putting our ...
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NewsCzech manufacturer develops high speed turnout
CZECH REPUBLIC: Turnout manufacturer DT Výhybkárna Strojírna has unveiled a swing-nose crossing and switch set for high speed lines that allows through running speeds of up to 350 km/h and 230 km/h when diverging. ‘Our switches, switch structures and components are already ...
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NewsCzech narrow gauge railways to get new operators
CZECH REPUBLIC: Passenger services have restarted on part of the narrow gauge network centred on Jindřichův Hradec following financial problems at operator JHMD. Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached for operation of the Osoblaha line to be transferred from national operator ČD to a group of ...
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NewsComfortJet coaches enter service
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD has put its first set of ComfortJet inter-city coaches into revenue service. An initial set began operating on the Praha – Bohumín route on June 12, with the Bohumín – Františkovy Lázně route to follow once three sets are ready for ...
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NewsTraction innovations on show in Ostrava
CZECH REPUBLIC: One of the 18 Flirt electric multiple-units being supplied to Serbia formed the centrepiece of the Stadler presentation for the Rail Business Days 2024 trade fair at Ostrava’s Trojhalí Karolina centre.
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NewsČD orders more Škoda BEMUs as first trainset is unveiled in Ostrava
CZECH REPUBLIC: The first Škoda battery-electric multiple-unit for state operator České Dráhy was officially unveiled at the Rail Business Days trade fair in Ostrava on June 11.
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In depthCzech Republic: Ostrava link leads revised core network plan
With limited progress being made on the planned new line between Praha and Dresden, Czech infrastructure manager Správa Železnic is taking forward an initial section of high speed line in the east as part of plans to develop a 400 route-km high-performance backbone. SŽ’s Deputy Director for High Speed Lines Jiří Merta explains the state of progress to Benjámin Zelki.
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NewsInvestor sees ‘genuine growth potential’ as DB completes sale of Arriva
EUROPE: The sale of Deutsche Bahn’s non-German public transport business Arriva to I Squared Capital has been completed, the companies announced on June 3. DB said it would now focus on rail transport within Germany, while I Squared said it sees opportunities to invest in decarbonisation. ...
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NewsŠkoda Group acquires Cegelec
CZECH REPUBLIC: Škoda Group has acquired 100% of the shares of tram, metro and trolleybus electrical component supplier Cegelec from Vinci Energies. Cegelec will operate under the name Electric Components as part of the Škoda Electric business. ‘Škoda Group is undergoing long-term development, which includes strengthening ...
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NewsRegioJet orders Škoda EMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet has awarded Škoda Group a KC3·5bn contract to supply 23 customised 160 km/h electric multiple-units. The order announced on May covers 15 two-car and eight three-car units to be delivered by December 2026. They will be used on services in the Ústí nad ...
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NewsŠkoda battery multiple-unit on test
CZECH REPUBLIC: Škoda Group has sent the first 15Ev3 battery-electric multiple unit for trials at the Velim test centre ahead of deployment in the Moravskoslezský region. The BEMU which arrived at the test centre on May 2 is based on the Class 650.2 RegioPanter design used ...
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Metro Report InternationalRegauged inter-urban tram line reopens
CZECH REPUBLIC: Revenue services on the full length of inter-urban tram Route 11 between Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou have restarted following a two-year rebuilding which included conversion from metre to 1 435 mm gauge. The reopening on May 1 completed a 30-year programme to rebuild ...
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NewsČD and RegioJet competition dispute settled
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD and Open access company RegioJet have agreed to end all legal proceedings relating to a dispute about competition on the Praha – Ostrava line Under the so-called Falcon Case, RegioJet had sought damages of up to KC717m, alleging that ČD had ...
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Metro Report InternationalPraha tram extension to support housing development
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha city council has instructed transport operator DPP to draw up plans for a tramway extension to the Komořany district to support residential redevelopment on two former industrial sites. The 2·6 km segregated double-track route serving five stops would branch off the existing network near ...
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NewsRegioJet to launch night train to Ukraine
EUROPE: RegioJet has opened ticket sales for a night train service between Praha and the rail hub at Chop in western Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast. The operator says this will be the first 100% commercially operated service between the European Union and Ukraine. The daily service is ...