PKP IC's "Pendolino" again on the Czech network
posted on 20th Oct 2025 19:06
On Monday 20 October 2025, the unit ED250-001 of PKP Intercity arrived in the Czech Republic for tests via Chałupki. The aim of the runs carried out in cooperation with ČD is to verify the vehicle's compatibility with the Czech railway infrastructure. The test runs were planned on the Bohumín - Mošnov, Ostrava Airport - Studénka sections and then to Nedakonice (betweeen Přerov and Břeclav) and subsequently on the Olomouc - Červenka and Olomouc - Uničov stretches of line.
The runs are to last until 22 October, after which the "Pendolino" will return to Poland (we deliberately put the word "Pendolino" in quotation marks, because despite the name, these trains do not have a bodyshell tilting).
However, on 20 October at 15.18 h, unit ED250-001 (formed by cars 2 370 001 - 007) caused an almost incident at Studénka station when during shunting manouevre (an empty train without passengers) it ran the train path of a passenger train formed by RegioPanter BEMU, travelling from Ostrava to Veřovice. Since the Class 690 RegioPanters are equipped with ETCS OBU, this passenger train was automatically stopped and both trains halted 112 m apart. Two inspectors from DI (Drážní inspekce, the Railway Inspection) investigated the causes and circumstances of the incident.
The Class ED250 received approval for operation in the Czech Republic in November 2022. Adam Wawrzyniak, member of the board of directors of PKP IC, states: "We are currently using Class ED250s in domestic transport. However, when the time comes, we will deploy them commercially outside Poland. We are preparing technically for this."