Fox Hill or Sunshine Peak: Stadler Trains in South Moravia Were Named After Vineyards

South Moravia welcomes new connections from December 2024. Klínky or Purmice, the modernised Stadler GTW units that will revitalise the lines between the wine-growing hills, have been given names inspired by local vineyard lines.

From mid-December, modernized Stadler GTW units will appear on the lines of South Moravia. Arriva will deploy them on lines S8 (Břeclav-Mikulov-Znojmo), S52 (Zaječí-Kobylí-Hodonín), and S91 (Hodonín-Veselí nad Moravou-Vrbovce-Myjava).

When naming the thirteen modernized Stadler 948 trains, the carrier was inspired by the vineyards around which the trains will pass. Each unit bears the name of one of the important wine routes in South Moravia. Passengers can thus set off on a journey on trains named after places such as Klínky, Purmice, Liščí vrch, Nová hora, Vrbovecký Šác, Velkobílovická, Langewarte or Slunečná.

"We are glad that the modernized Stadler trains will be running in the Znojmo region, but also in the Mikulov region, the Breclav region, and the Hodonín region. The inhabitants of these parts of the region will thus be provided with comfortable and modernly equipped connections that will make their travelling significantly more pleasant," said Jan Grolich, the Governor of the South Moravian Region.

Stadler GTW trains in a new coat

These carriages, which once roamed the rails in Germany, have been thoroughly renovated to meet today's standards of comfort and technology. The transformation of the Stadler GTW units was carried out by ŠKODA PARS from Šumperk, which breathed new life into each of the trains. The modernization has mainly brought internet connectivity with Wi-Fi, new electrical sockets, USB ports, and an improved interior. The units have also been given a new color design, in line with the palette of the South Moravia region known from the Moravia trains.

One of the novelties is a clear information system with a large-format panel, one of the largest on the Czech railway. Thanks to this, information about the route is easy to read even from a longer distance. Another interesting feature is the automatic passenger counters. Cameras above the entrance doors automatically record boardings and alightings, which allows for more precise planning of connections. Passengers will also welcome the ticket vending machines where IDS JMK tickets and OneTicket national tickets can be purchased.

"The kits will also have several other common elements with the Moravia units, proving their worth. For example, before arrivals at interchanges, information panels on board will display not only the departures of connecting trains but also the current departures of connecting bus lines transmitted from KORDIS. At the same time, the on-board computer in the driver's cab will be connected to the KORDIS dispatching center, and in case of emergencies, the driver can receive direct messages about waiting for connecting bus lines, which facilitates dispatching," said Jiří Horský, director of KORDIS JMK.