photo: České dráhy/EXCITING: The First New Three-Car Unit RegioPanter Has Been Presented in Ostrava
Czech Railways has officially christened the new three-car RegioPanter train set, which will be deployed on the regional line from Opava to Ostrava-Svinov in the Moravian-Silesian Region within this month. It is the first-ever three-car unit, which is part of a delivery of 60 such vehicles from the Škoda Group. The ceremonial launch took place at the Rail Business Days in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The RegioPanter 640.2 series unit has a capacity of 234 seats and offers modern and comfortable travel in 21st-century regional transport.
"The three-car Panters are another contribution to the overall renewal of the Czech railway fleet. Our goal is to gradually reach a state where passengers will not even think of a modern train as something extraordinary and new, but as a normal part of comfortable, fast, and reliable rail travel," says Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka.
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The unit, which is being presented at the Ostrava fair, will be supplemented during June by another three-car RegioPanter set intended for the Moravian-Silesian Region. "Railway transport in the Moravian-Silesian Region is gradually undergoing renewal and modernization, which significantly increases the comfort of traveling in the region. The latest reinforcement is two new three-car electric RegioPanter units, which we are acquiring with the support of the OPD2 operational program. They will run on passenger trains between Opava and Ostrava-Svinov and will complement the modern CityElefant units already delivered to the region and the previous two-car RegioPanters," says Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Czech Railways.
One of the priorities of the Moravian-Silesian Region is to make public transport more attractive so that it can relieve congested roads. "Rail transport is essential for our region not only concerning improving the environment. Traveling by train is safer, more comfortable, and often faster than traveling by car. To make it more attractive, it is definitely appropriate to improve the quality of train sets. The new RegioPanter will offer our passengers a pleasant air-conditioned environment with comfortable seats, sufficient space for prams, wheelchairs, bicycles, and charging sockets or Wi-Fi. Of course, it is barrier-free, and the information system also takes into account the presence of passengers with poor eyesight or deafness," says Radek Podstawka, Deputy Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, adding that the new train will start running between Ostrava and Opava before the summer holidays.
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"RegioPanter is our flagship, and I am happy that it has gained great popularity among passengers. While this generation builds on the previous electric units already in operation in many regions, this one differs significantly from its predecessors. In particular, the new generation systems, both the traction drive, which is more economical and safer, and the control system, including ETCS, and the train meets the highest current safety requirements. The bogies have improved running, and the train is more spacious and comfortable," says Tomáš Ignačák, President of Region CZ/SK at Škoda Group.
České dráhy (Czech Railways) operates twelve modern CityElefant units and five non-traction push-pull units and gradually, they are supplemented by two- and three-car RegioPanter units in the Moravian-Silesian Region. Two Panters have already been delivered in the past for the Ostrava - Mošnov, Ostrava Airport line. Of the new generation of RegioPanters, one new 650.2 series two-car unit has already been delivered and will be complemented by four more units by the end of the year. Train deliveries will continue next year with the arrival of four more RegioPanter electric units. In this case, these will be trains that will be retrofitted with battery cells (similar to BEMUs), as requested by the regional administration. The Moravian-Silesian Region is intensively addressing the use of alternative drives and sustainable public transport and is currently in the process of awarding a public contract for 15 more battery-powered trains (BEMUs) with a range of at least 80 kilometers, intended for the north of Moravia. The battery-electric units can be deployed on lines that will combine electrified and non-electrified lines. Passengers will not have to change between electric and diesel trains and will have a direct connection.
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Equipment of RegioPanter electric units
- Modern bright and clear air-conditioned interior with ergonomically designed upholstered seats in 1st and 2nd class versions;
- handicapped boarding with the vehicle floor at the level of modern platforms without the need to climb stairs; wheelchair passengers will be equipped with a platform to bridge the space between the platform and the vehicle floor; at stops with lower platforms, an additional pull-out step will facilitate boarding;
- modern safe sliding doors operated by buttons, centrally closed and locked before the train starts; in addition, for the blind and partially sighted, the front doors of the unit will be equipped with remote door control operated by a blind radio and equipped with an acoustic beacon;
- a spacious wheelchair-accessible toilet also accessible to wheelchair users with a closed system and also equipped with a folding table for changing babies;
- additional services such as electrical sockets for powering portable electronics such as mobile phones, tablets, etc., including USB ports, Wi-Fi, folding or folding tables according to the seating layout, and 230 V sockets for charging electric wheelchair batteries;
- sufficient space to accommodate pushchairs, bicycles, and wheelchair users;
- 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, information labels in Braille will also be available inside the train.
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Source: Czech Railways