Pars nova a.s., rolling stock modernization, repair and production Czech company, part of Group Škoda Ttransportation Group, has completed the project of the modernisation of 40 passenger coaches, included now in both national and international express trains EuroCity and InterCity of České dráhy (ČD).

The CZK 700 million ( EUR 25 million) contract for modernisation of 40 units, which were manufactured in the beginnings of 1990s under the name “Bmee”, was concluded between the company ČD, a.s. and the company Pars nova Šumperk in 2012. The trial operation began in the first half of 2013 and the company Pars nova handed the last renovated units to České dráhy in the end of September this year.

“Modernisation concerns both technical and operation parameters and comfort of travelling: passengers will appreciate especially the new modern interior with practical improvements such as more comfortable seats, folding tables or tilt tables, 230 V sockets for charging of notebooks or phones, new windows securing the temperature comfort and air-conditioning,” said Tomáš Ignačák, Pars nova chairman of the Board.

From the perspective of technical and operation changes, the greatest advantage was achieved by the modification of chassis and brake systems including the integration of the electro-pneumatic brake. The maximum speed of the vehicles is 160 km/h. Due to the modernisation the vehicles comply with the highest requirements on safety of operation and passengers, including the current requirements on safety of operation in tunnels with the length of up to 5 kilometres and other strict international standards.

 “The total value of the contract for modernization of the vehicles of České dráhy was . The modernised vehicles are already used in trains on the lines Praha – Ostrava – Žilina, Praha – Brno – Bratislava – Budapešť or Praha – Plzeň – Mnichov,” commented Michal Kurtinec, CEO of Pars nova.