CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet exercised an option to order seven more Class 654 Elf.eu EMUs from Pesa on November 4.
The three-car EMUs will be used on Praha cross-city services S49 and S61 from December 2024. The dual-system 3 kV DC/25 kV 50 Hz low-floor EMUs are derived from Pesa’s Elf 2 design; they will be fitted with ETCS onboard equipment and have a maximum speed of 160 km/h. They are fitted with air-conditioning, wi-fi, power sockets and a space for bicycles, pushchairs and bulky luggage. Each EMU will have 240 seats and are to be delivered in the second half of 2024.
The city of Praha has awarded RegioJet a 15-year contract to operate the suburban routes; its offer was priced at KC215·5 per train-km, beating bids by Arriva and incumbent ČD.
Regiojet signed a framework agreement with Pesa in March 2019 to supply 30 Elf.eu EMUs. Seven two-car EMUs were called off from the initial order for PSO services in the Ústí nad Labem area; these are due to enter service from the December timetable change in trial revenue operation on regional services U5, U7 and U13, replacing ex-DB Class 628 DMUs.
