Prague and the Central Bohemian Region are preparing a tender for the operation of trains until 2059

Commercial presentation Update: 30/04/2024 09:46
Issued by: 30/04/2024, 09:46

Prague – A tender for the operation of railway transport for 30 years for more than 40 billion crowns is being jointly prepared by Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. The winner would buy the trains and operate them from 2029 to 2059. The tender is to be issued this fall, and the metropolis and the region want to choose the winner next June at the latest. The conclusion of the contract is then expected in October. This was told to journalists today at the Central Bohemian Regional Office by Central Bohemian Region Councilor for Public Transport Petr Borecký (STAN) and Prague Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib (Piráti).

“We are actually competing with a carrier that will purchase the trains that will run for us,” said Borecký. Part of the tender is the procurement of large-capacity double-decker train sets for approximately 400 passengers. Compared to the current ones, they will have roughly a quarter more capacity.

The technical parameters of the new cars include, for example, low-floor entry, space for bikes and strollers, sockets and wireless charging, barrier-free toilets, tally frames and a camera system. According to the councilman, the advantage of a 30-year contract compared to a 15-year contract is that it pays to build, for example, a new depot, which is essential for the maintenance of sets.

For now, according to Borecký, it is assumed that the region and Prague will cover the costs without subsidies. However, it is not excluded that suitable subsidies could be tendered. The division of costs between the capital and the region will be based on so-called train kilometers.

The governor’s office has already informed that the winner of the tender will purchase trains for more than 20 billion crowns. Including vehicles from options, the total is over 40 billion crowns. Trains will run on railway corridors and also on the currently modernized Prague – Kladno line. The tender process will be supervised by the anti-corruption organization Transparency International (TI). The costs of ensuring the transport services of the region will also increase substantially, by approximately 1.4 to 3 billion crowns. According to Borecký, the increase in fares will also be related to this.

In addition, other competitions are being prepared for railway carriers, for example for RegioPanter units or for electric units on the Prague – Lysá nad Labem line. The governor’s office plans to issue these tenders next year. Conversely, on regional non-electrified lines, the Central Bohemian Region extended the contract with Czech Railways (ČD) until 2034. It was originally supposed to expire in 2029. The extension of the contract will be made possible by investments in vehicles and other equipment for almost 4.8 billion crowns.

ČR railway administration Středočeský Prague