The Škoda Group has announced that The European Train Control System (ETCS) developed by its Belgian affiliate The Signalling Company (TSC) will be deployed for the first time in 34 new Škoda Group hybrid BEDMU trains destined for operation by RegioJet.
This will mark the very-first deployment of this technology in newly manufactured vehicles, contributing to the optimisation of performance, safety and the overall lifetime value of Škoda trains.
RegioJet’s order consists of a mixture of 18 two-car units and 16 three-car units under a contract exceeding CZK 9 billion.
The modern hybrid trains are equipped with a diesel power unit, allowing for extended operation on non-electrified lines whilst retaining the benefits of electric traction.
In the future, these units are capable of being fully converted to battery-powered or electric operation.
Each train will be equipped with TSC’s ETCS, which utilises the universal digital rail platform iEVC-RailOS – a piece of technology that combines modular onboard hardware with software applications, allowing for simpler, lower cost upgrades, be they functional or driven by new regulations.
Alexandre Bétis, Managing Director of The Signalling Company, said:Our goal from the very beginning was to rethink signalling technologies and deliver a solution that is modular, simpler, and scalable, with the ability to support multiple signalling and non signalling applications on a common safe computing platform.
This project is another important step for us, demonstrating that our technology is competent for both ETCS retrofit projects like the one we are executing with Lineas in Belgium, and new-build projects like this one.
We very much look forward to deepening our collaboration with Skoda Transport and driving further innovation and value for their rolling stock portfolio.
The new trains are scheduled to enter service from on routes in Northeast Bohemia (R14A Pardubice–Liberec, R14B Liberec–Ústí nad Labem, R21 Prague–Tanvald, R22 Kolín–Rumburk, and R24 Prague–Rumburk) from December 2029.
