Czech Railways (České dráhy) has launched two public procurement procedures for the purchase of 120 battery-electric multiple units (BEMU), designated BEMU130 and BEMU135, intended for regional transport services.
The aim is to select suppliers and conclude framework agreements for the delivery of up to 40 BEMU130 units and up to 80 BEMU135 units.
The initial order covers the supply of 13 multiple units, of which 7 will be BEMU130 and 6 will be BEMU135, out of a total of up to 120 multiple units for which framework agreements will be concluded. Additional units will be ordered according to the requirements of the regions for the provision of battery-powered train services. The contracts will also include the delivery of spare parts for service and maintenance, including subassemblies for the repair-by-exchange system. Full-service maintenance conditions will also be discussed during negotiations with the tender participants.
The procurement procedures will be carried out in several stages and will include a qualification stage, followed by negotiations on delivery conditions, such as detailed technical solutions and contractual clauses.
The technical parameters and other characteristics of the units are determined according to the requirements of the contracting authorities and the conditions of the TRANSGOV* financing programme.
The tenders involve the delivery of partially low-floor battery-electric multiple units, which must be multi-system compatible with 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC power supply systems. They must have a minimum capacity of 121 (for BEMU130) and 140 seats (for BEMU135). The air-conditioned trains will offer first and second class seating, as well as sufficient space for prams, bicycles, and large luggage.
The trains will be equipped with Wi-Fi, electrical sockets, and USB ports for charging portable electronic devices, as well as a modern audio-visual information system. They will also feature GSM-R and ETCS systems and safety technologies. The maximum speed will be 160 km/h under the contact line and 120 km/h in battery mode.
“Many regions have already expressed interest in introducing battery-powered hybrid electric multiple units in regional transport, and other regions are considering this step. In order to respond to regional plans for transport services, we have launched two public tenders for the delivery of battery-powered electric trains in accordance with the requirements of the public transport authorities,” said Michal Krapinec, CEO of Czech Railways.
In the Czech Republic, the Moravia-Silesia region introduced the first BEMUs, which led to an increase in the number of passengers choosing to use modern, emission-free trains, which also offer “the possibility of introducing direct connections on electrified and non-electrified lines without transshipment. “We have seen a high level of interest in these connections, and the number of passengers using modern, barrier-free trains with direct connections is growing,” explained Michal Krapinec.
At the end of 2024, Czech Railways introduced the first battery-powered trains on the Moravia-Silesia network. By December 2026, the operator will introduce 15 RegioPanter hybrid multiple units, manufactured by the Škoda Group, into the region’s network.
* TRANSGOV is a national financial support program that co-finances the purchase of modern rolling stock and supports the modernization of public transport services commissioned by regional authorities. This program also establishes technical and eligibility criteria for the trains being financed and creates technical specifications (capacity, accessibility, safety systems, energy efficiency).
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