First new Vectrons from RSL handed over to ZSSK

As we described here, ZSSK will acquire 15 more Vectrons on lease from RSL over the next two years. The first two of these, 193 025 and 032, were taken over on 5 December 2024 and presented to the public the following day.

Peter Helexa, ZSSK CEO, said: "We are meeting at the Bratislava  depot shortly after saying goodbye to the Class 350 locomotives. These vehicles have been reliable for a long time, but today they can no longer compete with modern technologies in the European area. We are therefore very pleased to welcome the new Vectrons to the very place where the chapter of these extremely popular vehicles is gradually coming to an end. The new locomotives will enable us not only to meet our commitments, but also to keep pace with the best European rail operators in terms of quality and high standards of operational reliability.

The design of the new locomotives will refer to ZSSK's recruitment campaign 'Keeping Slovakia Moving', which promotes careers in rail transport. The new design is a simple representation of dynamism and movement, as we believe that passenger rail is a significant part of keeping Slovakia moving.  The simple, dynamic lines used on the red background, typical of our trains, symbolise smoothness, reliability and speed - important attributes of rail transport."

By the end of the year, ZSSK is to have up to five of these RSL machines at its disposal. They will be seen in the Czech Republic from the 2025 timetable, where they will replace the Class 361 ETCS locomotives, which are still awaiting approval, and also the existing RSL Vectrons of the first batch, 383.101 - 110, which has not upgraded on-board ETCS to Baseline 3. The entire batch of 15 new Vectrons is to be delivered in phases by the end of 2026.