At the end of August and beginning of September, two new Škoda RegioPanter EMU’s were presented to the public. These are the first of 37 vehicles for the South Moravia region in the Czech Republic and the first out of a series of 32 four-car EMU’s for Latvia.
Although both multiple units belong to the same RegioPanter product family, they differ considerably, especially in their dimensions. While the vehicle for southern Moravia is equipped with standard gauge bogies for 1435 mm gauge, the Latvian variant runs on broad gauge bogies for 1520 mm. In addition, the vehicles for the Latvian state railways are about 600 mm wider (3,430 mm) than their Central European sister vehicles. This means that the wide GOST loading gauge can be fully utilised. This also allows for 2+3 seating in the interior. Also, the front cab design between both vehicles is slightly different.
RegioPanter – a success story
Since the development of the RegioPanter product family in 2011, Skoda has put a total of 101 vehicles into service. The Czech state railways České dráhy and the Slovakian railways ZSSK now operate a total of 101 trains in various versions and lengths in regional and intercity transport. Further orders are currently in delivery and production for the Czech Republic (37 trains for South Moravia in delivery and production and 31 for ČD in production), Slovakia (9 vehicles in production), Latvia (32 vehicles in delivery or production) and Estonia (6 vehicles ordered, 10 in option).
600 mm wider for Latvia
The vehicles for the Latvian state railways Pasažieru vilciens (PV) are four-car and have a total length of 109 metres. The vehicles, designated Škoda 16Ev, have two motorised end cars, a motorised middle car and a non-motorised middle car, whereby one bogie is always motorised.
They are used in suburban and regional transport. The maximum speed is 160 km/h. There is space inside for 436 seated and 454 standing passengers.
The trains are designed for dual system operation (3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz), although only the 3 kV equipment has been installed so far.
South Moravia
In December 2019, the South Moravia Region (Jihomoravský kraj) ordered a total of 31 four-car (Type 18Ev) and 6 two-car (Type 19Ev) multiple units for use in the conurbation around Brno, where they will replace the outdated 560 series trains. The total order value is 6.5 billion crowns. The vehicles are running with 25 kV 50 Hz AC voltage. The first of the new trains has now been presented to the public and is scheduled to enter passenger service on the S2 and S3 lines this autumn.
More trains for the ČD
In December 2021, ČD ordered a further 31 three-car RegioPanter for regional transport. They will be equipped with on-board ETCS and are scheduled for delivery in 2024. After delivery of all lots, ČD’s Panter family will grow to a total of 147 RegioPanter for regional services and 14 InterPanter for long-distance services.
12.09.2022
