The Czech Ministry of Transport has awarded a 15-year contract worth €750 million (£640 million) to Sunderland-based Arriva to operate long-distance electric rail services from December 2028, serving cities west of Prague on routes to Pilsen and to Cheb and Klatovy, which are close to the German border.
The contract award unlocks €300 million (£255 million) investment in a new fleet of 22 electric trains. These will operate at speeds of up to 200km/h (125mph) and provide much-needed additional capacity on one of the country’s busiest corridors.
Sian Leydon, managing director for Mainland Europe at Arriva Group, said: “This is a flagship win that reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth in Czechia and across Europe. It unlocks a major investment in modern, zero-emission trains and gives more people the choice to switch to reliable, high-quality passenger transport, taking cars off the congested highway between these major cities.
“Arriva already operates electric trains in the region and this contract allows us to build on that experience at scale, supporting our goal to connect communities through greener, smarter transport. We’re proud to be contributing to the next chapter of Czech rail and shaping the long-term future of passenger transport across Europe.”
The contract win builds on Arriva’s existing network and service offer in the Pilsen region, where it already has a strong presence and operates electric trains. It comes as the Czech government is investing in major rail infrastructure, including a new line with a 25 km tunnel – an ambitious infrastructure project that’s set to reshape rail travel in Czechia and which Arriva’s services will be at the heart of.
The new long-distance electric trains will connect Prague, Pilsen, and western Bohemian cities such as Klatovy and Cheb along two routes, helping to shorten journey times and provide a more attractive, sustainable alternative to travelling by car. The new services will help alleviate road congestion and enable modal shift along one of the country’s most important transport routes.
Daniel Adamka, managing director of Arriva CZ, said: “This is the largest investment Arriva has made in the Czech Republic.
“It will bring greater comfort to passengers travelling from Prague to Western Bohemia, and we believe it will attract new customers to rail. I’m proud of our team, who won this contract against strong competition from three other operators.”
Arriva operates 1,800 buses, 102 trains and employs more than 3,500 people in the Czech Republic. In 2013, the group entered the Czech rail market and has been growing since that time. It introduced electric trains in the Pilsen region at the end of 2023.
Formerly a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, Arriva was acquired by American private equity firm I Squared Capital in June 2024.
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