BUSINESS

About the company Škoda Vagonka

Rail vehicle producer ŠKODA VAGONKA is the successor to the former wagon plant of Studénka

established on Dec. 12, 1900 as StaudingerWaggonfabrik AG (Studénecká továrna na vagóny). In

over a century of its history, the company has produced more than 10,000 passenger rail vehicles.

The first passenger vehicle was made in 1902, the first tram in 1905, the first engine in 1916, and

the first railcar in 1927. The first electric engine was produced in 1959. Over 1,200 passenger rail

vehicles were exported to Bulgaria, Italy, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, USSR, Turkey, and

recently to Finland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Slovakia. The company is the only producer in the Czech

Republic who makes classic steel, stainless steel and aluminium boxcars.

Since its foundation, the company has

gone through numerous changes and

developments in the product portfolio,

organization and ownership (e.g. being part

of Ringhoffer Concern in 1929, or of ČKD

PRAHA Holding since 1997). From 2001

the company has operated in a modern

renewed facility in Ostrava. In 2005,

ŠKODA VAGONKA became a member

of Group ŠKODA TRANSPORTATION,

which has been a member of PPF Group

since 2018.

Recently, the company has focused on

the development and production of

a new generation of double-decker rail

vehicles NIM Express (Nuremberg –

Ingolstadt - Munich) for German Railroad

(Deutsche Bahn). This contract has been

a breakthrough and very significant task for

all Škoda Transportation group. The project

is extremely challenging in technologies,

incorporating features expected in modern

travel in the 21st century. The project

involves local suppliers from the MoravianSilesian Region and the Czech Republic.

A total of six six-vehicle double-decker trains

will service the link at speeds of up to

190 km/h. This contract develops the

company’s tradition in the successful

production of double-decker electric trains

already operating in the Czech Republic,

Lithuania, Slovakia and Ukraine. In addition

to the development and production of

these trains, electric trains “Regiopanter” for

the Czech Railway Company ČD are being

made.

The near future of the company is in the

assembly of passenger rail vehicles for

ČD in the syndicate SIEMENS – ŠKODA

and single-deckers are being made

for Slovak Railways, developing the

concept of “Regiopanter” with a range of

improvements. Crucial changes are found

in the brand-new interior with better travel

comfort and further enhancement of

vehicle performance.

Škoda Vagonka works on concepts and the

development of new vehicles: in addition to

new double-deckers based on the trains of

NIM Express, a second generation of singledeckers is being developed. All the new

concepts follow progress in guaranteeing

passengers and crew the highest levels of

safety along with applied design science for

service and passengers’ travel comforts.

The company currently employs 500

people. ŠKODA VAGONKA is a traditional

employer with 20% of its employees

coming from the town of Studénka, where

VAGONKA’s plant was situated till 2001.

A job in VAGONKA means security with

a range of benefits and opportunities

to learn and grow in a field with great

potential.

Text a foto:

www.vagonka.cz

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