RegioJet prepares test operation of Class 655

Another Class 655 EMU has arrived in the Czech Republic, i. e. one of seven three-car units of the Regio160 type, which RegioJet has ordered from PESA Bydgoszcz for the operation of Lines S49 and S61 of Praha suburban transport, under the PID scheme (Pražská integrovaná doprava, Prague's integrated transport). Unit 655.006 was transported to the VUZ test centre Velim and now there are two of them in the Czech Republic.

Currently, Drážní úřad (the Czech Rail Authority) is in the process of authorising a test operation without passengers, which RegioJet expects to start at the end of February or beginning of March, with six units. The necessary part of the test operation will be followed by the test operation with passengers, at the end of March or beginning of April 2025, on the two mentioned Lines S49 and S61. This, with all six Class 655s, should be accompanied by a test operation under ETCS supervision, as the section of S61 between Praha-Běchovice and Úvaly is in ETCS-operation only.

RegioJet has taken over from ARRIVA trains the operation of Line S49 Praha-Hostivař - Praha-Libeň - Roztoky u Prahy with a timetable change in December 2024, and at the same time should start the operation of the new Line S61 (Praha-Vršovice -) Praha hl. n. - Úvaly. Due to the delay in delivery of the new PESA-built EMUs, the start of the S61 has been postponed and for the operation of the S49 RegioJet is hiring DMUs from ARRIVA vlaky.