ČD issues tender for non-powered trainsets

České dráhy (ČD) has launched a tender for the supply of up to three non-powered trainsets for long-distance services, with an option for a further seven units. The decision follows positive feedback from passengers and international partners regarding the operation of the modern ComfortJet non-powered trainsets. According to Jiří Ješeta, ČD’s Deputy Director General for Passenger Transport, the company plans to order three trainsets initially, with the remaining seven available as options as “we’ll proceed with purchasing those as soon as further operational opportunities arise,” he said. The railway operator will sign a framework agreement with the successful bidder for the delivery of the trains. “Even in this initial phase of ComfortJet operation, we’ve received positive responses from both passengers and our partners. It’s clear that modern trains based on non-powered units, combined with modern locomotives, hold great potential for further developing international transport and enhancing connections between the Czech Republic and neighbouring countries,” Ješeta added. The tender covers 10 non-powered trainsets (a total of 90 carriages) with a capacity of approximately 550 seats, including around 100 First Class seats. The trainsets must be approved for operation at speeds of up to 230 km/h, and certified for use in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. They must also be compatible with Siemens Vectron locomotives and capable of push-pull operation, allowing bidirectional travel without the need to turn the train. České dráhy has committed to purchasing three units, with the option to acquire up to seven more, depending on future requirements for international services. Earlier this year, the Czech operator announced a focus on enhancing comfort and quality in long-distance travel, aiming to introduce 14 of the 20 newly ordered trains into service as part of its rolling stock renewal programme. The first nine-car ComfortJet trains, manufactured by the Siemens–Škoda consortium, entered into service this spring.