First TRAXX MS3 locomotives placed into commercial trial operation in the Czech Republic

ČD Cargo's Class 388 002 TRAXX MS3 locomotive operating nearby Krasíkov, in the eastern half of the Czech Republic. Credit: Pavel Polak

Bombardier Transportation and ČD Cargo – a state-owned Czech railway operator – have taken an important step towards deploying BOMBARDIER TRAXX MS3 locomotives in the Czech Republic, as the first two of these locomotives pulling freight trains started commercial trial operation on 3 July 2020.

Ivan Bednárik, Chairman of the Board of Directors at ČD Cargo, said: “Using this modern locomotive in our fleet will enable us to offer our customers additional services, thanks to its increased power and efficiency. We are also proud to be the first ones to operate the TRAXX MS3 locomotive, the first locomotive to be fully compliant with the new Czech Electromagnetic Compatibility standard, which is one of the most stringent in Europe. This recently achieved authorisation shows that our new locomotive is at the forefront of modern rail vehicles in Europe.”

Tomáš Holý, Sales Representative Czech Republic and Slovakia, Bombardier Transportation, said: “Our TRAXX 3 platform is our latest product development in the locomotives segment and it’s a very proud moment, not just for me, but for everyone at Bombardier to see the TRAXX MS3 locomotive enter in commercial operation. The vehicle addresses our customer’s need for a forward-looking product based on a proven platform: to date, more than 2,000 TRAXX locomotives are operating in 20 countries, covering a combined distance of 300 million kilometres per year.”

ČD Cargo and Bombardier Transportation signed a contract for the delivery of up to 50 TRAXX MS3 locomotives with a first call-off order for 10 locomotives. ČD Cargo will use the locomotives for freight and passenger transport in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary while extending the fleet’s operability to Slovenia and Croatia.