ČD to Continue in Extraordinary Inspections of the Bcmz Class Couchette Cars. The Couchette Car Has Successfully Passed the Strength Test for New Cars

In the follow-up to the consequences of the tragic accident in Pardubice, České dráhy has arranged for extraordinary inspections of the Bcmz834 class couchette cars. Within the framework of these inspections, the car was also subjected to a compression test in the rolling stock testing laboratory of VÚKV, a.s. (Rolling Stock Research Institute), which has not revealed any design problems concerning the carriage frame or body. All nine cars owned by České dráhy should undergo an extraordinary inspection by the end of next week. České dráhy is investing several million crowns in these extraordinary inspections and tests.

In a compression test according to the international rules described in the UIC 566 Leaflet for new and currently approved passenger carriages, the Bcmz834 61 54 59 - 71 002-1 couchette car was subjected to a repeated pressure of 1,000 kilonewtons (kN) developed on each buffer, i.e. 2,000 kN per frame. “The results of the compression test have confirmed to us that the Bcmz class does not show any signs of design faults when proper maintenance procedures are followed. We subjected it to the heaviest loads prescribed by the applicable standards,” says Jiří Ota, Director of the ČD Rolling Stock Servicing Department, commenting the test results. “České dráhy considers safety as its top priority. All the inspections and tests carried out so far confirm to us that our carriages are in good technical condition, which is also the result of the costly and consistent modernisation which České dráhy carried out on them after their purchase,” adds Michal Kraus, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director General of ČD for Servicing.

In the follow-up to the suspicions raised by one of the carriers operating these couchette cars and concerning their design condition after the accident in Pardubice, České dráhy proceeded to extraordinary inspections of 9 couchette cars of the Bcmz834 class owned by České dráhy. The extraordinary inspection is focused mainly on the condition of the frame and the carriage body, when 12 critical points on each side of the frame have been identified and the thickness of the underframe longitudinal member is measured. Besides, measurements of planarity are made, and the deflection of the underframe longitudinal members must not exceed 25 mm according to the currently applicable standards. The values measured so far are an order of magnitude lower.  The welds and corrosion of the frame and carriage body are checked at a detailed level as well. At the moment, three carriages have been inspected and there have not been identified any deficiencies which would prevent their operation. State supervision was also carried out by the Rail Authority, which has not found out any problem in the maintenance and condition of these vehicles.

All ČD vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained not only internally within the framework of the European ECM maintenance certification, but also by means of external certified servicing centres.

České dráhy operates altogether 9 Bcmz834 class couchette cars, which it purchased from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). When the carriages were purchased in 2015, they were subject to thorough and consistent maintenance, and between 2021 and 2023, all carriages were subject to complete modernisation.