Škoda Group and RegioJet signed a CZK 9 billion (EUR 370 million) contract for the delivery of 34 Panter hybrid train units of the new BEDMU type (Battery Electric Diesel Multiple Unit) which will enter service in December 2029. Under the contract, Škoda Group will deliver RegioJet 18 two-car and 16 three-car BEDMUs which will deliver passengers faster journeys and improved customer service. In two-car version, the trains will be 52.9-metre long and will have a capacity of 120 seats of which 10 at Business Class. In the three-car version, the units will be 79.4-metre long with a total capacity of 197 seats of which 16 at Business Class. The modern trains are conceptually designed as battery–electric units with a diesel generator set that allows for extended range, fully aligned with the requirements of the Czech Ministry of Transport. Thanks to the maximum use of electric power, optimisation of the diesel powerpack, and the use of renewable HVO fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil), the trains achieve optimal operating costs while minimising environmental impact. Thanks to the option of later conversion into purely battery or purely electric units, these modern trains pave the way towards a zero-emission rail future. In RegioJet’s colours, the BEDMU trains will operate the following routes: R14A Pardubice–Liberec; R14B Liberec–Ústí nad Labem; R21 Prague–Tanvald; R22 Kolín–Rumburk, and R24 Prague–Rumburk. The new trains are designed as dual-system (3 kV DC, 25 kV AC) units, and will feature advanced systems for optimising energy consumption and for smooth transitions between operating modes, taking into account timetables and track profiles. A remote monitoring system will further optimise maintenance costs and increase operational reliability. The BDEMUs will be equipped with internal and external camera systems as well as the ETCS . The trains will provide passengers with onboard vending machines, powerful air conditioning, modern passenger information systems, Wi-Fi connectivity, and charging sockets for electronic devices. Level boarding and low-floor interiors will ensure easy travel for passengers with reduced mobility, while barrier-free toilets, as well as dedicated spaces for prams, bicycles and wheelchairs, will be standard. The Panter hybrid train units represent the most efficient solution to provide environmentally friendly and comfortable transport on key routes in Northeast Bohemia that are not yet electrified. The trains will save up to 19,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. “
