ČD’s Škoda-Built Class 380s On Regular Praha To Budapest Service

ČD’s Class 380s entered regular commercial service hauling expresses between Praha and Budapest on 22 October 2014, following driver training by MÁV START. The 380s are currently hauling the daily EC 272/273 “Avala” Beograd - Praha service, between Budapest and Praha. This is a warm-up exercise, since starting with the timetable change in December they will be used on between six and seven trains to Budapest each day. The Class 380s are now used on commercial services in three countries outside the Czech Republic - Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, and their use on Praha to Budapest services involves crossing two international borders for the first time. This photo, taken near Šaľa, shows the first southeastbound Class 380-hauled service (EC 273), the locomotive in question being 380.015.