Czech Railways (České dráhy - ČD) has accelerated the renewal of its passenger fleet, sending 200 vehicles—mainly legacy coaches—to scrap in the first half of the year. A further 60 units are scheduled for dismantling by early autumn, the company said.
“Following large deployments of new RegioPanter and RegioFox units and the rollout of ComfortJet sets, we removed a significant number of older passenger coaches—especially the so‑called ‘faux leather’ cars—from service,” said Jiří Ješeta, Board Member and Deputy CEO for Passenger Transport. “Surplus vehicles are offered for sale first; if there’s no buyer, they are scrapped.”
What went to scrap
- 48 driving and intermediate cars from EMU class 460
- 32 long‑distance coaches B249
- 50 regional coaches Bdt
- 30 “suitcase” vehicles, incl. DMU classes 809/810 and trailers BDtax (012) / Bdtax (015)
- Other types: a motor coach 854, one double‑deck coach, and ~10 “Honecker” cars (ex‑GDR types)
Sold, not scrapped
13 withdrawn vehicles were purchased by domestic and foreign buyers—some for non‑rail uses (hospitality venues), others for heritage operations. The most in‑demand were class 810 railcars (4 units) and various “faux leather” coaches (4 units). Remaining surplus stock—mainly 810, BDtax (012) and Bdtax (015)—is listed on the company’s corporate website.
What’s next
The disposal program will continue, with 400+ additional legacy vehicles slated for retirement in the coming years, replaced by modern traction and multiple units including Siemens Vectron, ComfortJet, and RegioFox sets. Czech Railways currently operates 2,100+ traction vehicles and unit cars, and 1,600+ standalone passenger coaches across long‑distance and regional services.
