ComfortJet

ComfortJet is a high-speed push-pull train which is being built by Siemens Mobility and Škoda Transportation for the Czech train operator České dráhy and it is planned to start operations from summer 2024. Based on the Railjet, Siemens developed its Vectrain train family. It will operate at speeds of up to 230 km/h and will replace old carriages on international EuroCity services between the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary and on domestic InterCity services in the Czech Republic.

History
On April 12, 2021, the Siemens Mobility – Škoda Transportation consortium won the competition for the framework contract for the supply of 180 new express wagons for České dráhy. 20 sets consist of 9 Siemens Viaggio Comfort wagons. In March 2022, České dráhy signed a contract with Siemens Mobility for the purchase of 50 Siemens Vectron MS multi-system electric locomotives, which have a maximum operating speed of 230 km/h. The ComfortJet sets will be powered by these locomotives.

Trainsets
A ComfortJet train set consists of nine individual coaches that are permanently coupled with airtight interconnections. The coach furthest from the locomotive acts as a control car. The number of cars in the train can also be expanded by adding regular carriages.

Planned services
České dráhy plans to use the new trains on the following routes:


 * Praha hl. n. - Olomouc hl. n. - Ostrava hl. n. (for testing in 2024)
 * Praha hl. n. - Ústí nad Labem hl. n. - Dresden Hbf - Berlin Hbf - Hamburg Hbf (- København H)
 * Praha hl. n. - Brno hl. n. - Wien Hbf - Graz Hbf (- Villach Hbf)
 * Praha hl. n. - Brno hl. n. - Bratislava hlavná stanica - Budapest Nyugati