České dráhy wins largest transport tender in Czech history for Prague and Central Bohemia services

České dráhy has won the largest passenger transport tender in Czech history — starting in 2030, the company will operate railway lines in Prague and Central Bohemia for the next 30 years. The contract is expected to be signed in the second half of September, according to Filip Drápal, spokesperson for the Prague Integrated Transport System, with regional councillor Petr Borecký (STAN party) confirming the information.

He noted that the agreement still needs to be approved by the regional assembly on September 7, and must also be signed off by Prague. According to Drápal, none of the bidders filed any objections to the tender results within the legally mandated fifteen-day window, which ran until August 21, 2026. If both the region and the city approve the contract terms, České dráhy will once again take over passenger services on local lines.

Rival bid came in nearly 20 billion crowns higher

According to earlier data from the region, carrier RegioJet was also in the running for the contract. However, its price offer came in significantly higher — 183.65 billion crowns compared to České dráhy's 165.17 billion crowns. According to the Czech News Agency (ČTK), this is the largest carrier tender in the country's history.

New trains and line modernization

The winning operator will run a fleet of large-capacity electric trains across Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, with the purchase of these trains also included in the contract terms. The new units, designated EMU 400, will offer at least 380 seats each and will operate on key routes connecting the capital with the region — including the line from Prague to Kladno, which is currently being modernized.

The carrier is required to purchase at least sixty train sets, with the scope of further purchases depending on the expansion of the rail network. The region is the primary contracting authority for the tender, with Prague as the secondary partner; the city and the region will split project funding equally.

Source: novinky.cz