en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Czech Ministry of Transport has initiated a competitive tender for long-distance passenger rail services on the R26 line (Prague–Příbram–Písek–České Budějovice), with an estimated contract value of CZK 784 million (EUR 31.7 million). The contract begins with the timetable change in December 2027, with a base term of four years. The Ministry also includes an option for a two-year extension, potentially extending operations until 2033.
The contract covers long-distance passenger rail services on both electrified and non-electrified sections of the R26 corridor, maintaining a two-hour service interval between Prague, Písek, and České Budějovice. Given the relatively short four-year base period, operators can use existing rolling stock without purchasing new vehicles. The Ministry considers this a transitional arrangement until a long-term tender requiring new train fleets is launched. Bids will be evaluated based on additional quality criteria, including a minimum operating speed of 100 km/h on all sections and the requirement that all vehicles be equipped with onboard European Train Control System (ETCS) components.
The contract is named the R26 Prague–České Budějovice Public Service Contract, with a total value of CZK 784 million (EUR 31.7 million), including ticket revenue. Parties involved include the Czech Ministry of Transport (contracting authority) and the current operator Arriva. The tender deadline is September 16, 2026, with services starting in December 2027, a base period until December 2031, and an optional extension until 2033. The corridor is located in the Prague–South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
The structure of the R26 tender as a transitional contract with a four-year base period plus a two-year optional extension reflects the Czech Republic's phased liberalization strategy, where short-term transitional contracts precede long-term fleet renewal tenders. The CZK 784 million covers four years, approximately CZK 196 million per year, a figure comparable to other Czech regional rail contracts but significantly lower than long-term agreements that typically include obligations for new rolling stock procurement. In comparison, the Swedish Transport Administration recently reached an agreement ensuring Stena Line rail ferries operate on the Trelleborg–Rostock route until December 2031, indicating that European transport authorities are structuring medium-term service continuity agreements of four to seven years to bridge larger infrastructure or fleet transformation planning cycles.
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