An anniversary edition of Czech Raildays was held between 16 and 18 June 2009 in its customary venue adjacent to the main station in Ostrava. Nine years on from its modest beginnings, the event can truly be regarded as an international, rather than a national one, even if the intentional main focus, in terms of exhibits, rests on the products of Czech industry within the rail and urban public transport sectors.
ÖBB's latest flagship train, the railjet, was described in detail in R 1/09, pp. 22 - 37, and rake 80-90.011, coupled up to Taurus 1116 219 was by far the longest exhibit, positioned prominently in one of the sidings immediately adjacent to the exhibition grounds entrance gate. Standing next to the train was the new Škoda electric, ČD's 380.001, making its public debut in the Czech Republic, and in mid-June 380.002 was at Velim, 380.003 had just finished testing within the Škoda works, 380.004 was nearing completion, 380.005 and 006 were in an advanced stage of construction, and the bodyshells of 380.007 and 008 had been built.
Photo: Bohuslav Kotál