Siemens Mobility has begun delivering the first high-speed Vectron locomotives to České dráhy (ČD), capable of operating at a maximum speed of 230 km/h. By the end of September, the first eight locomotives are expected to be delivered, with a further 12 arriving by the end of the year.
The Czech national operator’s operational and maintenance staff will now undergo training on the new locomotives, which will also feature a special corporate livery.
“We are now starting to receive the next generation of locomotives with a top speed of 230 km/h. České dráhy will be the first operator in the world to have these high-speed Vectrons in its fleet. The new Vectrons, classified as series 384, will lead the most modern ComfortJet or Railjet sets,” said Michal Krapinec, CEO of České dráhy.
In 2022, České dráhy ordered a total of 50 high-speed Vectron locomotives. The first 20 will be operational by the end of this year, and from January 2026, Siemens Mobility will deliver one locomotive per week from its Munich-Allach plant, completing the delivery by the end of the following year.
The operator primarily plans to use them on prestigious international long-distance routes to Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Hungary, where sections of track allowing speeds of 200 km/h or more are already in service or under preparation. In the future, they will also be deployed on the initial sections of the Czech high-speed rail network.
“Siemens Vectron multi-system locomotives with a maximum speed of 230 km/h represent the technological forefront of interoperable rail transport. They are suitable for operation on both conventional and high-speed lines across Europe, and we are proud that the first locomotives with this speed will be part of the Czech customer’s fleet,” said Roman Kokšal, CEO of Siemens Mobility Czech Republic.
České dráhy has been operating Siemens Mobility Vectron locomotives for several years, with a fleet of 61 units currently in service.
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