Czech Railways, České dráhy, has officially taken delivery in Prague of the 50th and final Vectron Class 384 locomotive, with a top speed of 230 km/h. The delivery marks the completion of the contract signed in 2022 with Siemens Mobility for the modernisation of the Czech rail operator’s fleet of multi-system electric locomotives.
The symbolic handover ceremony took place at the Vršovice depot in Prague. The new Vectron locomotives are being gradually introduced into service on both domestic routes within the Czech Republic and on international connections.
“In less than a year since the arrival of the first locomotive, we have managed to put them into full operation, not only on domestic lines but also abroad. We are running them from Budapest to Hamburg, and in the future we want to go even further, as far as Copenhagen,” said Jiří Ješeta, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy Managing Director for Passenger Transport at České dráhy.
The Vectron locomotives have proved to be reliable and fast and have begun to replace the older electric locomotives in the company’s fleet. There are still a few steps to be completed in the process of bringing the new vehicles into service. These include the start of push-pull operation alongside the ComfortJet trains.
The Vectron locomotives will be deployed in Hamburg, Vienna, Budapest and Kraków
České dráhy was the first customer for the Vectron locomotives capable of reaching 230 km/h, and the experience gained from operating them on domestic and international routes is contributing to the further development of the Vectron platform.
According to Siemens Mobility, the locomotives’ performance is also supported by the service infrastructure, which is essential for maintaining a high level of availability. For the new units, the interval for preventive maintenance has been extended from 30,000 to 37,500 kilometres, which allows for more efficient use of the locomotives without compromising on safety or quality.
The expansion of Vectron locomotive operations will continue over the coming years, and from the 2027 timetable onwards, České dráhy intends to deploy them on international routes to Hamburg, Budapest, Vienna, Linz, Kraków and Przemyśl. Of the 50 Vectron 384 locomotives, up to 43 are expected to be used in regular service, covering over 14 million kilometres annually.
Together with the 61 Vectron D-193 locomotives, these are expected to cover approximately 70 per cent of České dráhy’s electric locomotive requirements and around 80 per cent of the kilometres travelled by the company.
The contract, signed in 2022, includes not only the supply of the locomotives but also 15 years of maintenance and technical support services. The locomotives are equipped with ETCS and national safety systems, such as PZB/LZB, Mirel and Shp, and are ready for operation on several European rail networks.
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