Škoda provides new dining cars to VR Group
Czech rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation will supply seven new dining double-deck cars to the Finnish railway company VR Group. The delivery is worth 600 million Korunas (circa 23.4 million Euros). The wagons will be produced in Finland by Škoda Transtech, a local subsidiary of the Czech holding.
The Škoda’s dining cars will be entered into service in 2021-2022. The coaches will have two floors for different purposes. “The restaurant section on the lower floor of the car has a kitchen, counter and dining room. At one end of the car is a café that offers open space for passengers to get together in or it can provide the venue for a cultural program. There is a kiosk at the other end of the car, which also provides service for the upper floor. The passenger section on the upper floor can also be used as a conference room for up to 41 people,” said Zdeněk Majer, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Transtech and senior Vice-President of the Škoda Transportation. The wagons are designed for operations at a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour.
Škoda wagons in Finland
The contract is a part of long-term cooperation between Škoda Transportation and VR Group. The first Czech passenger cars were delivered to Finland in 1998. In 2015 Škoda Transportation strengthened its position on the Finnish market by acquiring the local company Transtech. The Finnish subsidiary has already manufactured 26 dining cars for VR Group. “I am happy that this order will allow us to continue our collaboration with VR Passenger Services that operates 290 cars built by Škoda,” noted Petr Brzezina, CEO of Škoda Transportation.
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