On the third Saturday in September, the railway junction and depot in Česká Třebová will offer an attractive programme on the occasion of the Regional Railway Day. The visitors coming to the depot area will see an exhibition of both historical and modern vehicles from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at 2 p.m. a brand-new RegioFox unit will be ceremonially put into operation in the presence of representatives of the management of České dráhy and the officials of the Pardubice Region. Fans of railway history will be able to take a ride on the board of a steam train to Lanškroun and special rides will also be prepared on various tracks in the junction and through the Metrans container transshipment yard. Visitors who want to visit the depot can use shuttle trains from the 5th platform of the Česká Třebová railway station.
“České dráhy’s rolling stock is currently undergoing a massive renewal, which will mean a leap increase in travel comfort for passengers in the regions. Dozens of new trains in both electric and diesel tractions are currently in production. We have ordered a total of seven brand-new RegioFox units for the Pardubice Region, which are to run mainly on the railway line from Pardubice via Hlinsko v Čechách to Havlíčkův Brod. The first of these units is already now in trial operation and the others will follow on a gradual basis,” says Jiří Ješeta, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director General of ČD for Passenger Transport, and adds: “The first RegioFox in the colours of the Pardubice Region will also be one of the biggest attractions of the Regional Railway Day in Česká Třebová. Nevertheless, on this day visitors can also look forward to steam trains and tours of the railway operation background facilities.”
“The Regional Railway Day is already a traditional event in Česká Třebová, and I am very glad that the cooperation with České dráhy works not only within the framework of providing regional railway transport services, but also within the framework of other accompanying activities. In addition to this event, we are jointly preparing for Saturday, October 7, the 150th anniversary of the commencement of operation of the Moravian border railway from Dolní Lipka through Hanušovice up to Šumperk. That is why I am convinced that fans of railway nostalgia have something to look forward to in our region,” said Martin Netolický, Governor of the Pardubice Region, adding that the information on the anniversary will be gradually published on the website vlaky.pardubickykraj.cz.
Fans of historical railway vehicles can look forward to special rides of the steam train with the 423.009 locomotive known as “The Big Bull” on Saturday 9 September. It will run twice during the day from Česká Třebová to Lanškroun and back. Departures from Česká Třebová will be at 9:20 and 14:10 hours, and from Lanškroun back to Česká Třebová at 10:06 and 15:02 hours. On the morning journey from Lanškroun and on the afternoon journey from Česká Třebová, it will also be possible to leave the train directly at the Česká Třebová depot. A one-way fare on the steam train will cost adult passengers CZK 100, a ticket for children aged 6 to 15 will cost CZK 50 and younger passengers will travel free of charge
Visitors will also be able to take a ride on the board of the historical Bpjo double-decker train set on various tracks at the Česká Třebová railway junction. In total, three different round tour routes will be prepared. A unified fare of CZK 50 per person over the age of 6 years will be charged onboard this train.
The attractions of the Regional Railway Day will also include round tours through the Metrans area. Departures from the 5th platform of the Česká Třebová railway station will be at 8:40, 11:10 and 13:10 hours, and from the depot at 8:45, 11:15 and 13:15 hours. The journey will take about 40 minutes and will end again at the railway station in Česká Třebová. The fare will be free of charge.
During the day, ČD will also provide shuttle trains from the Česká Třebová railway station (from the 5th platform) to the depot. There, visitors will be able to see an exhibition of historical and modern vehicles from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at 2 p.m. the new RegioFox in the colours of the Pardubice Region will be ceremonially put into operation there. Those interested can take a ride in the driver’s cab or on the board of a train pulled by the 701-class locomotive known as “Piglet”. There will also be stands with refreshments and souvenirs, a children's corner or an exhibition of model railways.
The partners of the event will also provide an interesting accompanying programme. Správa železnic (Railway Administration) will enable interested visitors to make a tour of the central signal facility 019 (access via the underpass from the Korado company) and not far from there also a tour of the premises of the "railway firefighters" in Semanínská Street. At the Technical and Transport School in Habrmanova Street, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., interested persons will have an interesting opportunity of visiting the transport hall and the locomotive driving simulator.
The partners of the Regional Railway Day in Česká Třebová are the Pardubice Region, Správa železnic (Railway Administration), ČD Cargo, the towns of Česká Třebová, Lanškroun and Ústí nad Orlicí, CZ LOKO, Metrans, Kovoobrábění Jaroslav Vraštil, the Society of Friends of Model Railways and Railway Transport, Gustav Habrman Technical and Transport School in Česká Třebová and the Railway Society at the Rolling Stock Depot in Česká Třebová.
Why is the Railway Day celebrated?
The Railway Day is celebrated annually during September to commemorate the famous day of 27 September 1825 when the train of George Stephenson, inventor of the steam locomotive, set out on its first journey. This train linked Stockton and Darlington in Great Britain.
Railway Day celebrations are planned in many places in the Czech Republic during September. ČD and its partners are preparing the main event on 23 September in Bohumín. Details are available on the website www.denzeleznice.cz.
Author: Petr Pošta
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