photo: RAILTARGET/ŠKODA TRANSPORTATION
Through its legal representative, ROPID has distributed to participants in the megatender for the supply of trains intended to ensure public transport services in the Czech Central Bohemian Region a document setting out the technical specifications. The footer of the document states that it was created by and is the property of Škoda Group. Notably, Škoda Transportation, a subsidiary of the group, is itself a potential bidder in this tender.
The document, titled Technical Requirements BEMU 145 PTK, is intended for participants of the preliminary market consultation to enter precise specifications for BEMU trains they intend to offer in the tender. The exact English text contained in the document’s footer reads:
"This item is classified as internal. It was created by and is in the property of the relevant company of the Skoda Group. Do not share outside of the Skoda Group."
The document was sent to the bidders via the law firm Havel & Partners. This strongly indicates that it was created by someone from Škoda Group and then distributed to all participants, suggesting a possible involvement of one of the potential bidders in the preparation of the tender outside the usual procedures, such as preliminary market consultations.
Companies participating in the preliminary market consultations include Stadler Praha s.r.o., Siemens Mobility s.r.o., Škoda Transportation a.s., Alstom Czech Republic a.s., Hitachi Rail GTS Austria GmbH, and PESA Bydgoszcz S.A. The editorial team will seek statements from both the bidders and other involved parties.
As part of the tender, a total of 22 BEMU 145 units are to be purchased for deployment on selected routes connecting Prague with the Central Bohemian Region. The total fixed costs of the project are estimated at CZK 5.49 billion (EUR 226 million), excluding maintenance and operational costs.