Stadler to Install New Dual Traction System for Leo Express Following Rail Network Upgrades in Central Europe

Stadler to Install New Dual Traction System for Leo Express Following Rail Network Upgrades in Central Europe

(IN BRIEF) Stadler has been contracted to install a new traction system for Leo Express, a private Central European transport company, following recent rail infrastructure upgrades in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The new 25kV/50Hz AC traction system will be integrated into Leo Express’s fleet of Stadler FLIRT trains, which already use a 3kV DC system. This dual traction setup will allow the trains to operate seamlessly across different rail networks in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The installation will take place at Stadler’s Frauenfeld facility in Switzerland, with Czech suppliers also contributing to the project. The system will require hardware upgrades and software modifications to the Train Control and Management System (TCMS) and will undergo a series of technical tests to ensure proper functionality.

(PRESS RELEASE) BUSSNANG, 27-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ —  Stadler, a Swiss train maker with over 75 years of experience, has been awarded a contract to provide an additional traction system for Leo Express, a private transport company in Central Europe, following recent infrastructure upgrades to rail networks in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This new traction system, which will be designed and manufactured at Stadler’s plant in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, is part of a broader initiative to modernize the region’s rail infrastructure.

As part of the ongoing upgrades to railway networks in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the current 3kV DC traction system will be replaced with the European standard 25kV/50Hz AC traction system. Leo Express will incorporate this new system into its fleet of Stadler FLIRT trains, following a subsidy from the Czech Ministry of Transport. This will allow the five-car FLIRT trains to operate with dual traction capabilities, accommodating both the new 25kV AC and the existing 3kV DC systems.

The upgraded trains will be able to run seamlessly across various sections of the rail networks in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, providing more flexibility in their operations. On 23 January 2025, Leo Express formally commissioned Stadler to install the new traction system. The work will take place at Stadler’s Frauenfeld facility, with Czech suppliers also contributing to the project.

In addition to hardware modifications, the integration of the new 25kV system will require updates to the Train Control and Management System (TCMS), including the addition of a control element to switch between the two traction systems. The project will also include a series of technical tests, such as a weight assessment, body strength test, and running and brake tests, to ensure the successful implementation of the new system.

About Stadler

Stadler has been building trains for over 80 years. The provider of mobility solutions in rail vehicle construction, service and signalling technology has its headquarters in Bussnang in eastern Switzerland. More than 14,500 employees work at several production and engineering sites and over 80 service locations, including over 5,300 employees in Switzerland. The company is aware of its social responsibility for sustainable mobility and therefore stands for innovative, sustainable and durable quality products. The product range in the mainline and urban transport sector includes high-speed trains, intercity trains, regional and suburban trains, underground trains, tram-trains and trams. Stadler also manufactures mainline locomotives, shunting locomotives and passenger coaches. Stadler is the world’s leading manufacturer of rack-and-pinion railway vehicles.

About Leo Express

Leo Express is a private transport company providing rail and bus passenger services in Central Europe. Founded in 2012, it operates mainly on the commercial route Prague-Ostrava in Czech Republic, but its trains also go to Košice, Slovakia and Krakow, Poland. The network is complemented by bus lines to Poland and Ukraine. Since December 2019, Leo Express operates regional trains in Pardubice Region, and in December 2023 it took over regional rail transport on the busiest Slovak railway line, Bratislava–Komárno. Working closely with its main shareholder, the Spanish National Railways Renfe, the company plans strong growth in Central Europe in the coming years, both on commercial and PSO routes.

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Media contact

Stadler Rail Group
Jürg Grob
Deputy Head of Communications & PR
Phone: +41 71 626 19 19
E-mail: medien@stadlerrail.com
www.stadlerrail.com

SOURCE: Stadler