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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