Vlak bez strojvedoucího na české trati … Budoucnost české železnice
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BUSINESS
Why does each region arrange its transport
operator separately?
Each region feels that its railway line is unique. But in reality,
the situation is very similar everywhere. A regional train
stops roughly every ten minutes and does not exceed
speeds of 160 km/h. That applies almost universally. If
we were to produce a smaller number of train units, their
price would become economically disadvantageous
for the customer. Fixed and one-off costs are so high
that with lower volumes, economic efficiency decreases,
and with it competitiveness. For example, Italy has
65 million inhabitants, and its regions procure regional
transport through joint orders.
Each region chooses its own colour scheme, both
for the interior and exterior, and may select different
seating but the core remains the same for all.
What if regions do not need the trains
at the same time?
This can be legally addressed through an appropriate
contract with staggered delivery schedules. What is
needed is willingness and mutual agreement.
At your manufacturing plant in Česká Lípa, you employ
1,400 people, and even that is not enough. Where is
the problem?
We need more welding specialists. We have
the contracts. We do not have the welders. And we
are not talking only about the number of people – we
need highly qualified professionals. Our vehicles involve
complex structural welds; every joint is inspected,
and some undergo non-destructive testing. Out of eighty
graduates from our welding school, only about twenty
go straight into operations. Some move to other sectors
where the emphasis on quality and safety is not as strict,
and the work is therefore less demanding.
Are driverless trains a possibility in the Czech Republic?
Yes, autonomous operation is currently being
tested, for example, on French lines. Alstom is one
of the few companies in the world that, for instance
in metro operation, offers the GOA4 system – full
automation, no driver, no direct dispatcher. It is a similar
principle to autonomous train units that are planned
for the completion of Prague metro lines C and D.
Prague is preparing an autonomous metro
without drivers. How close are we to that?
A public tender is under way for the automation of lines
C and D. It is progressing more slowly than originally
planned. Prague wants to deal with lines C and D
simultaneously – 53 trainsets for line C and 16 for line D.
The tender is currently in the qualification phase. The goal
is clear: intervals between trains of under two minutes
instead of the current three, and double the capacity.
Dan Kurucz concludes the interview with a note
of cautious optimism: passenger transport is growing,
and private operators are expanding. He wishes
the new Minister of Transport, Ivan Bednárik, every
success in developing Czech railways in a pragmatic
way, improving their efficiency, and halting the decline
of freight transport. And above all, he maintains good
health in these challenging times. (ed.)
Traxx locomove
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Rail Business Days
Dan KuruczAlstom