Arriva awarded €750 million electric rail contract in Czechia

Arriva Group has won a major public transport contract in Czechia, strengthening its position in a growing European market and unlocking €300 million investment in a new fleet of electric trains.

The 15-year contract, awarded by the Czechia Ministry of Transport, is worth €750 million and will see Arriva operate long-distance electric rail services from December 2028, serving cities west of Prague on routes to Pilsen and to Cheb and Klatovy which are close to the German border.

The contract win represents a significant step in Arriva’s strategy to grow in key liberalising markets and support the transition to low-carbon transport across Europe. The 22 new electric trains Arriva procures to serve this line will operate at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour and serve passengers with a state-of-the-art modern fleet and additional capacity on one of the country’s busiest corridors.

Sian Leydon, Managing Director for Mainland Europe at Arriva Group, said: “This is a flagship win that reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth in Czechia and across Europe. It unlocks a major investment in modern, zero-emission trains and gives more people the choice to switch to reliable, high-quality passenger transport, taking cars off the congested highway between these major cities.

“Arriva already operates electric trains in the region and this contract allows us to build on that experience at scale, supporting our goal to connect communities through greener, smarter transport. We’re proud to be contributing to the next chapter of Czech rail and shaping the long-term future of passenger transport across Europe.”

The contract win builds on Arriva’s existing network and service offer in the Pilsen region, where it already has a strong presence and operates electric trains.  It comes as the Czech government is investing in major rail infrastructure, including a new line with a 25 km tunnel – an ambitious infrastructure project that’s set to reshape rail travel in Czechia and which Arriva’s services will be at the heart of.

The new long-distance electric trains will connect Prague, Pilsen, and western Bohemian cities such as Klatovy and Cheb along two routes, helping to shorten journey times and provide a more attractive, sustainable alternative to travelling by car. The new services will help alleviate road congestion and enable modal shift along one of the country’s most important transport routes.

Daniel Adamka, Managing Director of Arriva CZ, said: “This is the largest investment Arriva has made in the Czech Republic. It will bring greater comfort to passengers travelling from Prague to Western Bohemia, and we believe it will attract new customers to rail. I’m proud of our team, who won this contract against strong competition from three other operators.”

In Czechia Arriva operates 1800 buses, 102 trains and employs more than 3,500 people. The biggest part of Arriva’s Czechia business is bus transport, with over 15,000 connections per day transporting more than 115 million passengers per year.  In 2013, Arriva entered the rail market and has been growing since that time. At the end of 2023, it introduced electric trains in the Pilsen region.

Arriva Group has operations in 11 countries, delivering a wide range of passenger transport services, including buses, trains, trams, coaches, waterbuses, and bike-sharing. The group continues to invest in sustainable travel across Europe, from zero-emission buses to electric and hybrid trains and digital mobility solutions. Today’s contract award in Czechia supports Arriva’s broader goal to lead the transition to greener, more efficient public transport that better connects people and communities.

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Notes to editors:

• The contract was secured through a competitive tender involving four bidders and underlines the benefits of market liberalisation in driving investment and innovation.
• Arriva will announce the train manufacturer and delivery timeline in future updates.

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 Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.