ZSSK is exercising the option included in the contract for the delivery of nine electric units with an option for another 11 units, which was signed by ZSSK with the consortium of Škoda Group and ŽOS Trnava in September 2021.
ZSSK plans to deploy the first nine new four-car sets in the Košice and Prešov regions. It has now been decided to exercise part of the option and purchase five more units. This order is a continuation of the successful cooperation between Škoda Group, ŽOS Trnava and ZSSK.
In the past, Škoda together with ŽOS Trnava has produced and delivered 25 trains of the same type to its Slovak partner. Thanks to the new order, the Slovak fleet of RegioPanters will grow to 39 units.
“The Slovak railway is modernizing significantly, and we are very happy to be part of it,” said Tomáš Ignačák, president of the CZ/SK region at Škoda Group. “Slovakia is a key country for our group where we have been developing our activities for a long time and we cooperate very intensively with our Slovak partners. This train is proof of the very good Slovak-Czech cooperation, and it is very important to highlight the excellent cooperation with ŽOS Trnava, with whom we are also developing cooperation on other projects outside Slovakia.
“Škoda Group products are visible in Slovakia both on the railways, where passengers can ride not only RegioPanters but also electric units 671 or push-pull trains, as well as our trams in Bratislava have significantly helped to modernize Bratislava's urban transport and passengers can also use Škoda trolleybuses in several other cities,” Ignačák added.
Roman Koreň, chairman of the board of ZSSK, commented, “These five additional electric units are a signal that we are serious about modernizing the ZSSK fleet. I am pleased that we are contributing to improving the quality of transport again in the Eastern part of Slovakia, where the first new electric units will soon be available.”
The RegioPanter electric units are delivered to Slovakia as two-system units, for 3 kV DC or 25 kV 50 Hz with a capacity of 343 seats. They are designed for operation on regional lines with a standard gauge of 1 435 mm and a maximum speed of 160 km/h.