ZSSK is looking for suppliers of new sleepers

Under this heading, ZSSK announced on 20 January 2025 that it had launched a public tender for new sleeping carriages. "The aim is to procure 10 modern sleepers with the possibility of extending them by a further 14 ones, while the contract also includes their complete 10-year service."

The investment, estimated at over 90 million EUR including maintenance, should significantly improve the comfort of night travel. The cars should be equipped with modern features such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, comfortable beds and lockable compartments to meet the demands of 21st century passengers. The average age of ZSSK sleeper fleet is more than 40 years and only one third of them are equipped with HVAC.

However, the same press release goes on to say: "Modernisation would strengthen the position of rail transport as one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. The new modernised carriages would enable the extension of Slovak lines to foreign countries, thus providing passengers with even more comfortable and efficient connections. (...) New modernised sleeper carriages would allow us to improve the comfort of travelling and attract additional passengers."

To clarify this discrepancy, we contacted ZSSK, to which spokesman Dominik Drevický said: "The tender allows for the delivery of different types of cars - they can be brand new or used cars that have undergone modernisation. Ultimately, it will depend on the bids submitted by the bidders in the competition."

The press release also states that ZSSK also plans to modernise its couchette cars in the future to contribute to a better travelling experience.