ComfortJet
| ComfortJet | |
|---|---|
 A brand new ČD ComfortJet | |
| Manufacturer | Siemens and Škoda Transportation |
| Constructed | 2022 - present |
| Formation | 1 locomotive, 9 cars |
| Capacity | 555 seats |
| Operators | České dráhy |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 230 km/h (140 mph) |
| Traction system | Locomotive drawn (typically Vectron) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
ComfortJet is a high-speed push-pull train which is being built by Siemens Mobility and Škoda Transportation for the Czech train operator České dráhy and is planned to start operations from summer 2024.[1] Based on the Railjet, Siemens developed its Vectrain train family. It will operate at speeds of up to 230 km/h and will replace old carriages on international EuroCity services between the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary and on domestic InterCity services in the Czech Republic.[2] It is very similar to the interjet trains based on the same Viaggio Comfort carriages used for shorter routes, which do not feature the Afmpz control car.
History
[edit]On April 12, 2021, the Siemens Mobility – Škoda Transportation consortium won the competition for the framework contract for the supply of 180 new express wagons for České dráhy. 20 sets consist of 9 Siemens Viaggio Comfort wagons.[3] In March 2022, České dráhy signed a contract with Siemens Mobility for the purchase of 50 Siemens Vectron MS multi-system electric locomotives, which have a maximum operating speed of 230 km/h. The ComfortJet sets will be powered by these locomotives.[4] However, this is not always the case, as for example, the R 9xx Hradečan service is pulled by a ČD Class 162 Locomotive [5]
Trainsets
[edit]A ComfortJet train set consists of nine individual coaches that are permanently coupled with airtight interconnections. The coach furthest from the locomotive acts as a control car. The number of cars in the train can also be expanded by adding regular carriages, as is often done with WRmz restaurant cars.[6][7][8]
Routes
[edit]Current Services
[edit]IC Ostravan
[edit]Source:[6]
Praha hl. n. - Praha Libeň - Pardubice hl. n. - Olomouc hl. n. - Ostrava hl. n. - Bohumín
The train is composed of 9 comfortJet coaches (a combination of Ampz, Bdmpz, Bmpz, Bbmpz, BRmpz and Afmpz), and is pulled by a Siemens Vectron MS locomotive leased by ČD from S Rail Lease s.r.o (UIC D-RAILL)
Trial runs including the Afmpz control car have begun on this service. The control car however is not yet used to drive, but only pulled as a standard carriage, and a Siemens Vectron is coupled to the front of the set.
Only the IC Ostravan services not marked Ex1, stopping only at the stops listed above feature comfortJet trainsets.
EC Berliner
[edit]Source:[7]
Praha hl. n. - Praha-Holešovice - Ústí and Labem hl.n - Děčín hl.n. - Bad Schandau - Dresden Hbf - Berlin Südkreuz - Berlin Hbf
The train is composed of 9 comfortJet coaches (a combination of Ampz, Bdmpz, Bmpz, Bbmpz, BRmpz and Afmpz), and is pulled by a Siemens Vectron MS locomotive leased by ČD from S Rail Lease s.r.o (UIC D-RAILL)
Trial runs including the Afmpz control car have begun on this service. The control car however is not yet used to drive, but only pulled as a standard carriage, and a Siemens Vectron is coupled to the front of the set.
Not all EC Berliner services currently feature a comfortJet trainset.
R Hradečan
[edit]Source:[8]
Praha hl. n. - Praha-Vysočany - Nymburk hl.n. - Poděbrady - Chlumec nad Cidlinou - Hradec Králové hl.n.
The train is usually composed of 8 comfortJet coaches (a combination of Ampz, Bdmpz, Bmpz, Bbmpz) and a non-comfortJet WRmz restaurant car, and is usually pulled by a ČD Class 162 Locomotive.
Only R 957 and R 972 consist of a ComfortJet trainset.
Planned services
[edit]České dráhy plans to use the new trains on the following routes:[9]
- Praha hl. n. - Olomouc hl. n. - Ostrava hl. n. (for testing in 2024)
- Praha hl. n. - Ústí nad Labem hl. n. - Dresden Hbf - Berlin Hbf - Hamburg Hbf (- København H)
- Praha hl. n. - Brno hl. n. - Wien Hbf - Graz Hbf (- Villach Hbf)
- Praha hl. n. - Brno hl. n. - Bratislava hlavná stanica - Budapest Nyugati
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Neue Angebote Fahrplanwechsel Juni 2024". www.bahn.de (in German). DB Fernverkehr AG. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Timetable 2024: More Trains to Poland and Austria. First of the Modern ComfortJet Train Sets to Be Put into Operation | České dráhy, a.s." www.ceskedrahy.cz. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "České dráhy objednaly až 180 vozů u konsorcia Siemens – Škoda za 12,5 miliardy, zvládnou rychlost až 230 km/h". Zdopravy.cz (in Czech). 12 April 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "České dráhy objednaly 50 Vectronů pro rychlost 230 km/h". Zdopravy.cz (in Czech). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "vagonWEB » Řazení vlaků » 2025 » ČD R » R 954 Hradečan". www.vagonweb.cz. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ a b "vagonWEB » Řazení vlaků » 2025 » ČD IC » IC 510 Ostravan". www.vagonweb.cz. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ a b "vagonWEB » Řazení vlaků » 2025 » DB EC » EC 175 Berliner". www.vagonweb.cz. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ a b "vagonWEB » Řazení vlaků » 2025 » ČD R » R 954 Hradečan". www.vagonweb.cz. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "The First ComfortJet Train Set Has Arrived at the Test Circuit in Velim | České dráhy, a.s." www.ceskedrahy.cz. Retrieved 21 September 2023.