At the Railway Days 2025 conference in Bucharest, Vlad Măcelaru, Business Development Manager for Škoda Group, presented the company’s growing contribution to sustainable transport in Central and Eastern Europe, outlining how the Czech manufacturer is combining energy-efficient rolling stock, digitalisation, and predictive maintenance to support Europe’s green transition.
Under the theme “Technology for a Changing World,” Măcelaru highlighted Škoda Group’s position as a European leader in passenger rolling stock, operating in more than 20 countries and employing over 8,000 people across sites in Plzeň, Ostrava, Prague, Budapest, and Tampere. The group’s portfolio includes electric and hybrid multiple units, trams, metro systems, trolleybuses, and smart service solutions designed for interoperability and low life-cycle costs.
Battery and hybrid trains for flexible operation
Măcelaru emphasised Škoda’s innovation in battery-electric multiple units (BEMU) and battery-diesel hybrid multiple units (BeDMU), which allow operators to combine zero-emission performance on electrified routes with autonomous operation on non-electrified sections. These technologies, he explained, are essential to bridging infrastructure gaps and reducing dependence on diesel traction.
Škoda’s BEMU platform, developed in collaboration with European operators, offers ranges of up to 120 kilometres in battery mode, rapid recharging, and flexible modular design that can be adapted for regional and commuter services. “We are focusing on sustainable, flexible and interoperable solutions — trains that can operate anywhere in Europe,” Măcelaru said.
The group’s hybrid multiple-unit projects are already in operation in several EU markets, with ongoing tenders in the Czech Republic, Germany and Finland, and upcoming opportunities in Romania as regional authorities prepare new procurement rounds under the Transport Programme 2021–2027.
Smart Depot and digitalisation
Škoda Group is also investing heavily in digital maintenance and data-driven asset management, an area Măcelaru described as key to reducing costs and increasing reliability. The company’s Smart Depot solution integrates sensors, diagnostics, and AI-based forecasting tools to automate inspection, optimise spare parts use, and extend maintenance intervals.
“Digitalisation allows operators to plan maintenance based on actual condition, not fixed schedules,” he said. “It’s a major step toward making rail more efficient, predictable, and passenger-friendly.”
Concluding his presentation, Măcelaru reaffirmed Škoda Group’s long-term commitment to the region: “We see Romania and its neighbours as strategic partners in Europe’s sustainable transport future — and we are ready to support this transition with technology, experience, and innovation.”
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