Arriva accelerates growth in Czechia with contract success and fleet modernisation

Arriva is accelerating its growth in Czechia, building on two decades in the country to expand its rail operations and invest in a new generation of lower-emission trains.

The company has been selected to operate a 15-year contract to run rail services connecting the western city of Pilsen with surrounding towns. The deal includes the operation of new fleet of battery-electric trains to replace existing diesels on the line – providing cleaner and more reliable journeys for passengers.

It underlines the scale of Arriva’s continuing growth in Czechia – 20 years on from the group’s entry to the country’s public transport market Already one of Czechia’s leading transport providers, Arriva operates 2,000 buses and more than 100 trains, providing 15,000 connections every day and carrying more than 115 million passengers a year.

Its rail presence is set to grow further through new contract wins and significant investment in modern electric and battery-electric trains.

Earlier this month, the first of a new fleet of modern long-distance electric trains manufactured by Škoda for Arriva reached a major milestone, with completion of the first train body shell. The trains will enter service from December 2028.

New €291 million contract win.

Arriva Group had been selected as the preferred operator for a new battery-electric rail contract worth €291 million.

The contract – starting in 2030 in the Pilsen region – will include a fleet of brand-new battery-electric trains, with six entering service in 2030 and a further six in 2033.  The new fleet replaces existing diesel trains operating on the line, cutting emissions because the new trains will be able to switch from overhead wires to battery power where no electric tracks are present.  The contract runs for 15 years up to 2045.

It is the third Pilsen contract that Arriva has been awarded.

Milestone in delivery of new intercity electric train fleet.

Arriva is also investing in a modern train fleet to operate on intercity services, with the production of a brand new fully electric Škoda fleet which will enter service in Czechia from December 2028. 

This investment followed a €750 million contract award by the Czech Ministry of Transport for long-distance rail services connecting Prague, Pilsen and Western Bohemia – one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.

Škoda Group has now completed the design and technical development phase of the project and has begun production of prototype vehicles for the new fleet. The first train body shell has now been manufactured, with prototype assembly having started in September.

Gianfranco Sgro, CEO of Arriva Group, said: “The Pilsen contract win and Škoda production milestone are both strong examples of how we are investing for the long term across Arriva. Growing operations and modernising fleets is central to improving the passenger experience, making our services more accessible and efficient, while also supporting the transition to more sustainable public transport across Europe.

“Our growth in Czechia rail validates our ambition to be a trusted, long-term partner to transport authorities across Europe. By combining investment in modern fleets with smarter technology and our operational expertise, we can deliver better journeys for passengers while helping the regions we serve meet their connectivity and sustainability ambitions.”

Petr Novotný Chief Executive Officer, Škoda Group, said: “This milestone reflects the strong partnership between Škoda and Arriva and our shared commitment to investing in the future of rail in Czechia.  The completion of the technical design and production of the first carriage body shell marks an important step towards delivering 22 modern electric trains that will support Arriva's growth plans and provide passengers with a fast, comfortable and sustainable travel experience."

The investment in Czechia forms part of Arriva Group's wider growth strategy across Europe – cementing the company’s position as one of the biggest and most respected pan-continental public transport operators. Arriva currently operates in 11 European countries including the UK, Netherlands and across eastern and southern Europe. 

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About Arriva Group:

Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czechia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.