The Czech national railway operator České dráhy (ČD) has opened a new repair workshop at the Havlíčkův Brod maintenance center, primarily intended for the modern RegioPanter and RegioFox regional trains. The investment, totaling over 235 million Czech korunas (over 9 million EUR), is part of a broader program to modernize the company’s technical facilities.
The new facility is located at a major railway junction on the border between Bohemia and Moravia and will support the maintenance of trains used primarily in the Vysočina and Pardubice regions. In total, the rolling stock based at Havlíčkův Brod serves rail routes in five regions of the Czech Republic.
The facility is a through-type depot with two tracks and is 67 meters long. It provides modern technological infrastructure for the maintenance and repair of regional trains, at a time when the Czech operator is rapidly renewing its fleet.
Equipment for RegioPanter and RegioFox trains
The new facility includes inspection pits, walkways for accessing the train roofs, a double-girder overhead crane with a lifting capacity of up to 12.5 tons, electromechanical jacks for lifting rail vehicles, and exhaust gas extraction systems.
The project also included the development of employee facilities, an oil storage facility, and a wastewater treatment plant.
The facility will be used primarily for the maintenance of RegioPanter EMUs and RegioFox diesel units, introduced by České dráhy on regional services.
However, RegioShark trains and RegioSpider railcars are also maintained in Havlíčkův Brod.
In total, over 50 railcars and units from seven different series are based at the Havlíčkův Brod center. The trains operated from here serve regional routes to Kolín, Pardubice, Tišnov, Znojmo, and Slavonice.
“Modern maintenance goes hand in hand with new trains”
Tomáš Honomichl, Deputy General Director of České dráhy responsible for maintenance, stated that investments in new rolling stock must be accompanied by the modernization of the maintenance infrastructure.
“In recent years, we have been investing significantly in renewing our fleet and introducing dozens of new trains on the Czech railways. This brings with it the need for modern service support. Havlíčkův Brod is one of the key hubs for our repair operations on the border between Bohemia and Moravia. The new facility will allow us to provide better, more efficient, and more technologically advanced maintenance for modern regional trains. A high-quality service base is an important prerequisite for reliable operation and a high level of travel comfort,” said Tomáš Honomichl.
For his part, Martin Kukla, governor of the Vysočina Region, noted that Havlíčkův Brod has long been an important railway hub in the area, and the new facility will contribute to faster and better train maintenance.
“This is especially important for passengers who expect comfortable and reliable regional transport,” said Martin Kukla.
Project carried out by the Hala HB consortium
The construction was carried out by the Hala HB consortium, consisting of the companies Chládek a Tintěra Havlíčkův Brod and TSS GRADE.
Petr Suchý, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Chládek & Tintěra, stated that the project was completed on time, in accordance with the investor’s requirements and to the promised quality standard.
Petr Heiland, head of the commercial department at TSS GRADE, said that the new facility will provide employees with a modern work environment and technologies that will contribute to more reliable vehicle maintenance. He emphasized that passengers will also benefit from this investment, as quality maintenance is essential for the stable operation of new trains in the Vysočina region.
Havlíčkův Brod Becomes a Modern Service Center
The new facility follows other investments made by České dráhy in Havlíčkův Brod. In 2023, the operator opened a new rail vehicle wash here, valued at nearly 90 million Czech korunas (over 3.7 million EUR).
The facility is equipped with modern eco-friendly technology, including water recycling and its own wastewater treatment plant. The system allows for the use of recycled and treated water in a proportion of up to 80%. The wash facility is fully automated and can operate year-round.
The maximum theoretical capacity is 25 vehicles in 24 hours, but the actual capacity is lower, as most trains are in use during the day on regular passenger services. In practice, the wash facility handles approximately 150 vehicles per month.
As part of the modernization of the washing facility at České dráhy’s largest depot in Prague, some trains from the capital area are also being washed temporarily in Havlíčkův Brod.
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