RegioPanters to Take over Further Operations in Prague and in the Central Bohemian Region

The operation of RegioPanters in Prague and in the Central Bohemian Region is expanding during August. The depot now dispatches four units a day, taking over the S4 line transport operations on the short leg between Prague and Kralupy nad Vltavou. Altogether, they cover a total of 1,200 kilometres per day.

“From the December timetable change at the latest, we will deploy 22 RegioPanter units in Prague, the Central Bohemian Region and the Ústí nad Labem Region. They will serve the S4/U4 lines from Prague to Kralupy nad Vltavou and further to Roudnice, Lovosice and Ústí nad Labem and the accelerated R41 line of fast trains from Prague to Kolín and Kutná Hora. The existing fleet of the CityElefants trainsets will be supplemented by 4,950 seats. However, the brand-new trains are not waiting for a new timetable in December, but they are being put into operation as soon as they are taken over from the manufacturer. Thanks to this, we can already extend the operation of these trainsets on the S4 line to Kralupy nad Vltavou in August and during the autumn we will put them on other services to Ústí nad Labem and then on fast trains to Kolín,” says Jiří Ješeta, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director General for Passenger Transport of České dráhy, presenting the operation of new train sets.

“We are keeping the promises we made to the inhabitants of the Central Bohemian Region, which concern a significant improvement in the quality of public transport. This includes the acquisition of brand new, high-capacity units in the PID colours. Modernisation of the railway system and increase in capacity on the backbone railway lines are essential if we are to motivate passengers to use public transport. Passengers expect quality corresponding to the 21st century and the deployment of modern trains will significantly increase the comfort of railway travelling within the framework of the Prague Integrated Transport system, not only in the Central Bohemia Region. I would like to remind you that other modern trains are running or will soon be running on the railway lines of our region. I mean RegioFox or RegioSpider units,” adds Petr Borecký, Member of the Council of the Regional Authority of the Central Bohemian Region for Public Transport.

České dráhy ordered 50 two-car and 60 three-car RegioPanter train units from the Škoda Group. All units are to be put into operation by the end of this year. They will replace trains which are up to 30 years old and consist mostly of classical passenger cars and locomotives. They offer modern travel comfort in 10 out of 14 regions, namely Prague, Central Bohemia, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Plzeň, South Bohemia, Olomouc, Moravia-Silesia, Zlín and Vysočina (Highlands).  

Advantages of the RegioPanter electric multiple units

• Modern bright and well-arranged air-conditioned interior with ergonomically designed upholstered seats according to requirements of the Regional Authorities in the 2nd carriage class and possibly also in the 1st carriage class;
• Wheelchair-accessible boarding with the vehicle floor at the level of modern platforms without the need to climb stairs; the trainsets are equipped with a platform for wheelchair passengers to overbridge the space between the boarding platform and the vehicle floor; an additional pull-out step facilitates boarding at stops with lower platforms;
• Modern safe sliding doors operated by push buttons, centrally closed and locked before the train departs; in addition, for the blind and partially sighted, the front doors of the train unit are equipped with a remote door control system operated by a blind radio and supplemented with an acoustic beacon; the doors are equipped with an audiovisual warning signal before closing and have safety features against pinching people;
• A spacious wheelchair-accessible toilet with a closed system and equipped with a folding table for changing baby nappies;
• Additional services, such as electrical sockets for powering portable electronics, for example mobile phones, tablets etc. including USB ports, Wi-Fi, tilting or folding tables according to the seat layout arrangement and 230 V sockets for charging electric wheelchair batteries, individual reading lights for individual seats;
• Sufficiently large space to accommodate wheelchair passengers, pram placement, bicycles and other large luggage;
• A modern audiovisual information system providing information about the train journey and stops to all passengers, including blind, partially sighted or deaf people; for the blind and partially sighted people, information labels in Braille will be available inside the trainsets as well.

Basic technical characteristics

      * PID units