On several regional lines in the Benešov area of the Czech Republic, the modernized RegioSpider railcars have replaced the old RegioMouse multiple units since April 1, marking a new step in the renewal of rolling stock used for regional transport in the Central Bohemia region.
These are the trains operating on the Benešov – Vlašim (S99), Benešov – Sedlčany (S98), and Olbramovice – Tábor (S90) routes, where several RS 1 series 841.3 railcars have been introduced, known at ČD under the commercial name RegioSpider.
“Spiders” replace the old “mice”
The new vehicles are replacing the 810 series railcars, which were renamed RegioMouse following modernization.
These are also known colloquially by other nicknames, but the Czech operator has chosen to emphasize the transition from the old “mice” to the new “spiders.”
The introduction of the new multiple units is part of a broader program to modernize the multiple units used in regional transport in the Central Bohemia region.
Modernized multiple units
The RegioSpider vehicles are low-floor railcars, accessible to people with reduced mobility, equipped with air conditioning, onboard Wi-Fi, and an audio-video passenger information system.
The model was developed in the mid-1990s for regional lines, and the last manufacturer was Stadler, which built it at its plant in Berlin.
There was also a Czech contribution to the development of this type of vehicle, with the operator noting that specialists from the VÚKV (Research Institute for Railway Vehicles) participated in the project.
More comfortable and more powerful than the 810 series
According to the operator, thanks to the two-axle bogies and improved suspension, travel on the RegioSpider railcars is significantly more comfortable than on the old 810 series multiple units, developed in the 1970s at the Studénka plant.
In addition, the engine power is over three times greater than in the 810 series, and traction on all four axles allows for more dynamic operation, even on routes with difficult terrain.
Passengers have access to an interior with approximately 70 seats, as well as space for strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles, and other bulky luggage.
Second-hand vehicles from Germany, modernized for the Czech Republic
The railcars now in use in the Central Bohemia region previously operated on local lines in Germany, and underwent an extensive modernization process before being put into service in the Czech Republic.
The manufacturer designated them as RegioShuttle RS 1, and at ČD they received the commercial name RegioSpider and the series number 841.
The maximum speed of these vehicles is 120 km/h, and the nine units used on services in the Benešov area belong to the depot in Tábor.
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