Škoda Group and Tesmec to develop high-performance and sustainable railway solutions

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Škoda Group has signed a strategic partnership with Tesmec Rail, Tesmec Group’s subsidiary dedicated to railway solutions, with the aim of revolutionizing the railway working and diagnostic vehicles sector, creating cutting-edge, high-performance, and environmentally friendly products on a global scale.

As part of the partnership, deliveries of 44 sets of components will be carried out between 2024 and 2028.

Supporting sustainable mobility is the focus of the partnership between Škoda Group and Tesmec Rail. This cooperation highlights the shared aim of both firms in growing their brands through a collaboration that places a strong emphasis on technical innovation.

Full electric and hybrid propulsion systems, including gearbox based on energy storage integration, will be supported by Tesmec rail vehicles equipped with Škoda Group’s electrically powered traction solutions. In addition to reducing environmental effect, this integration also makes energy recovery possible.

“It is with great pleasure that we, together with Tesmec, a major player in infrastructure technology, embark on a journey to change the transport industry. At Škoda Group, we have always been driven by innovation. We are committed to pushing the boundaries. By equipping Tesmec’s vehicles with our advanced traction equipment, we aim to redefine safety, reliability, and comfort in railway transport,” explained Petr Novotný, president of components and bus mobility solutions at Škoda Group.

“This partnership is an important step in our joint efforts to provide seamless transportation solutions that have a minimal impact on the environment. We also want to enhance safety on the rail and with those targets we are on the same board with Tesmec,” Novotný added.

To produce a distinctive, integrated green solution that gives the customers an advantage in the markets for diagnostic rail vehicles, catenary construction, and maintenance vehicles, Škoda Group and Tesmec Rail have modified their conventional products. Both businesses will strengthen the way they operate and increase their share of the market in the target regions by combining their business opportunities and encouraging collaboration.

“When we talk about the future, sustainability and innovation are the two pillars, a winning combination between technological development and compliance with environmental policies. The challenge of green and sustainable technologies represents a great opportunity for an international company like Tesmec Group. There are many changes to face. Therefore, we require accurate planning, technological curiosity, and strategic collaborations such as the one with Škoda. It’s a path that we will continue to follow with ever greater conviction,” added Ambrogio Caccia Dominioni, president and CEO of Tesmec.

The partnership between Škoda Group and Tesmec train got underway in 2020 after Tesmec Rail won the contract from RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) to provide four electrified train cars for diagnostics on the Italian network. Taking advantage of this achievement, Tesmec Rail was awarded a second contract from RFI in 2022 to supply 44 railway trucks with electric gearbox and a bimodal propulsion system. With the help of this system, vehicles can be powered both from a diesel engine-generator and at 3 kV DC (Lot 1) or at 25 kV AC (Lot 2). The technological developments that resulted in these key milestones were greatly aided by the work of Škoda Group.

This collaboration sets the stage for a new era of sustainable, technologically advanced railway solutions. Together, they will continue to push the boundaries of innovation, providing the railway industry with state-of-the-art products that promote environmental responsibility and advance the future of transportation.