Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK) has ordered five more four-car low-floor electric train units of the RegioPanter type. ZSSK is exercising the option included in the contract signed by ZSSK with the Škoda Group and the ŽOS Trnava consortium in September 2021 for the delivery of 9 electric units with an option for 11 units. It will take place in 2025.
ZSSK plans to deploy the first nine new four trainsets in Košice and Preşov regions. Now he decided to implement some of the option and purchase five more units. This order is a continuation of the successful cooperation between the Škoda Group, ŽOS Trnava and Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko. In the past, Škoda, together with ŽOS Trnava, produced and delivered 25 trains of the same type to its Slovak partner. Thanks to the new order, RegioPanters' Slovak fleet will increase to 39 units.
“Slovak railway is being significantly modernized and we are very happy to be a part of it. We greatly appreciate our long-term cooperation with Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko. Slovakia is a key country for our group where we have been developing our activities for some time. We have been cooperating for a long time and very intensively with our Slovak partners. This train is proof of the very good Slovak-Czech cooperation and it is very important to highlight the excellent cooperation with ŽOS Trnava, with which we are also developing cooperation on other projects. Slovakia Škoda Group products can be seen in Slovakia both on railways where passengers can board not only RegioPanters, but also electric units 671 or push-pull trains, as well as on our trams in Bratislava. Urban transport and passengers can also use Škoda trolleybuses in some other cities,” says Tomáš Ignačák, Head of the Škoda Group CZ/SK Region.
Andrej Doležal, Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, after signing the financing with Roman Koreň, Chairman and CEO of ZSSK, said: “I am very pleased that we have actually started withdrawing funds from Slovakia. Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic. This is the first project under the Ministry of Transport to sign funding from the Recovery Plan. We want to spend the maximum amount of funds allocated to us and this is the first step to achieve this goal.”
Roman Koreň, Chairman of the Board of ZSSK, adds: “These five additional electric units are a sign that we are serious about modernizing the ZSSK fleet. I am pleased to contribute to the re-improvement of transport quality in the eastern part of Slovakia.
Panther vehicles will be deployed on the lines of the Košice and Prešov regions, especially in the Čierna n/Tisou – Košice – Prešov line section. Prešov – Košice (line No. 188) and Košice – Michaľany – Slovenské Nové Mesto – Čierna n/Tisou (line No. 190).
Main features of electrical units
RegioPanter electric units are delivered to Slovakia as two-system units with a capacity of 3 seats for 25 kV DC or 50 kV 343 Hz. It is designed to operate on regional lines with a standard clearance of 1 435 mm and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. They offer passengers a fully air-conditioned, open-plan space with comfortable seats. Sockets, Wi-Fi connectivity and audiovisual information system are also key features. Trains have low boarding and 1.500 mm wide doors for fast, safe and comfortable passenger changes. The sets also have multifunctional compartments for disabled passengers, prams or bicycles.
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