UKRAINE: The first of two six-car double-deck electric multiple-units that Skoda Transportation is supplying to Ukrainian Railways under a €39·8m contract signed in February 2011 was formally handed over at the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic on March 13.
Derived from the CityElefant EMUs supplied to Czech Railways, the units for UZ can operate under 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC. They have aluminium bodies, a top speed of 160 km/h and 634 seats, including 46 in first class.
The first unit was moved to Haniska pri Kosiciach in Slovakia where 1 520 mm gauge bogies were fitted for acceptance trials in Kharkiv. The units will enter service with UZ's southern division on fast inter-regional Kyiv - Kharkiv and Kharkiv - Donetsk services in time for the UEFA football championships in June.
