Holdup in EUR 250 million competition for Prague – Brno fast trains. Carriers given extra five months
The fast trains on the R9 line will run between Prague and Havlickuv Brod, with branching on to Jihlava and Brno.
The Ministry of Transport tender for the provision of fast trains for the R9 line between Prague and Jihlava/Brno will be extended. The ministry announced on Thursday that the deadline for submitting bids has been postponed from April 21 to September 15. It reasoned the waning covid pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine were making it difficult for bidders to make offers. The tender was opened last October, with operations expected to begin in 2025.
The fast trains on the R9 line will run between Prague and Havlickuv Brod, with branching on to Jihlava and Brno. Every two hours there will be a direct train from Prague via Havlickuv Brod to Brno and every two hours a direct train connecting Prague and Jihlava.
This is the first open tender in which the Ministry of Transport is requesting new trains, namely vehicles with a speed of 200 km/h. This is in line with the upcoming plans for the Polabi high speed rail, on which these trains could run between Prague and Kolin. The requirement is for bidirectional trains; the estimated value of the 15-year contract is EUR 250 million.