As a national carrier, ČD is investing in the modernisation of its trains and service processes to ensure greater comfort and reliability of travel for all customer groups. Digitalisation and smart diagnostics play a key role in this. We spoke to Michal Kraus, Vice-Chairman of the Management Board and Deputy CEO for Service, about current approaches to maintenance and planned innovations.
Last year, Czech Railways deployed over 140 new locomotives and units. How prepared are you for this technological change?
Our fleet is experiencing one of the most significant transformations in the history of Czech Railways. In 2024, we introduced a host of brandnew, state-of-the-art trains to the Czech tracks. Long-distance services were boosted by the introduction of the first ComfortJet trains, while regional routes saw the addition of new RegioPanters and RegioFoxes, and powerful Siemens Vectron locomotives began operating on main lines. Battery-powered trains also debuted, marking the first instance of their regular operation in the Czech Republic. This modernisation brings entirely new maintenance requirements. It is no longer sufficient to rely merely on a hammer and wrenches; today’s maintenance is focused on digital diagnostics, remote data transmission, and handling advanced electronics. We frequently receive real-time updates on the condition of the trains, even when they are hundreds of kilometres away from our maintenance facilities.
We are the largest railway carrier in the country, we operate several thousand railway vehicles up to the most modern ones with this year’s production and we also provide their maintenance. Servicing is one of our key activities alongside passenger and freight transport. Classic trainsets with separate carriages are giving way to so-called complete units, i.e. trains made up of technically interconnected carriages. These trains require longer halls and technically advanced facilities that are also environmentally friendly.
But this also means significant investment. How big are the sums involved?
This is an investment set to exceed CZK 10 billion from 2024 to 2028. We have already completed new service facilities in places like Brno-Maloměřice and Plzeň, with more currently under construction in locations such as Cheb, Havlíčkův Brod, Česká Třebová, and Olomouc. Meanwhile, projects in Hradec Králové and České Budějovice are in the planning stages. The largest modernisation project is presently underway in Prague’s Vršovice and Záběhlice, where we are constructing the new central hub for Czech Railways’ maintenance services. In addition to a car wash, sanitary tracks, and renovated tracks, we are building a hall for ComfortJets – trains that exceed 250 meters in length and can reach speeds of up to 230 km/h. These trains are also designed to operate in challenging European environments, such as Austria’s Koralm Tunnel, which stretches nearly 33 kilometres.
Maintenance is one of the pillars of ČD. What do you offer to other train operators?
We build our know-how on people and technology. We have top experts and unique equipment spread all over the country. We understand both classic vehicles and the most modern ones. We work with manufacturers, hold the necessary certifications and can service a wide range of rolling stock. For example, we offer defectoscopy, a high-precision inspection of material defects, modern technology for bonding structural parts, and a sub-level lathe in Prague, which allows us to repair train wheels without dismantling them. This machine is also used by private carriers or manufacturers when testing their trains on the test track in Velim. We also cooperate with partners. In Brno, we carry out maintenance of Moravia trains in cooperation with Škoda Group. In Liberec, we have specialised workshops for motor coaches, and we take care of not only our Stadlers but also the vehicles of other carriers, including those operating in the Liberec region and Germany.
Thank you for the interview.
