Transport solutions specialist Škoda Group will work in a strategic collaboration with infrastructure technologies specialist Tesmec Group in order to revolutionise the railway working and diagnostic vehicles sector.

The ambitious collaboration was facilitated by Tesmec Rail which is a subsidiary of Tesmec and will see state-of-the-art, high performance and environmentally conscious products to be used around the world and will see 44 sets of components carried out from 2024 through to 2028.

The rail sector will play a huge part in energy and ecological transition and will see substantial reductions in CO2 emissions if compared to that of road vehicles/transportation.

The collaboration shared joint aims with a key focus on technical innovation for both electric and hybrid systems, including gearbox based on energy storage innovation, which will see rail vehicles by Tesmec powered using electrical traction solutions, which will bring further environmental benefits as it allows energy recovery.

Petr Novotný, The President of Components & Bus Mobility at Škoda Group said: “It is with great pleasure that we, together with Tesmec, a major player in infrastructure technology, embark on a journey to change the transport industry.

“At Škoda Group, we have always been driven by innovation. We are committed to pushing the boundaries.

“By equipping Tesmec’s vehicles with our advanced traction equipment, we aim to redefine safety, reliability, and comfort in railway transport.

“This partnership is an important step in our joint efforts to provide seamless transportation solutions that have a minimal impact on the environment.

“We also want to enhance safety on the rail and with those targets, we are on the same board with Tesmec,”

The collaboration will create a unique integrated environmentally friendly solution bringing advantages for clients who use diagnostic rail vehicles, catenary construction and maintenance vehicles as Škoda Group and Tesmec Rail modify conventional products.

Both companies will see a positive impact formed via the collaboration as they grow their markets targeted in an initiative to push both business opportunities and openly encourage collaboration.

Ambrogio Caccia Dominioni, the President and CEO of Tesmec, said: “When we talk about the future, sustainability and innovation are the two pillars, a winning combination between technological development and compliance with environmental policies.

“The challenge of green and sustainable technologies represents a great opportunity for an international company like Tesmec Group. There are many changes to face. Therefore, we require an accurate planning, “technological curiosity” and strategic collaborations such as the one with Škoda. It’s a path that we will continue to follow with ever greater conviction,”

Škoda Group and Tesmec began in 2020 as Tesmec Rail won a contract from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana for four electrified diagnostic train cars for the Italian network. In 2022, Tesmec Rail was also awarded a second contract with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana for 44 railway trucks with electric gearboxes alongside bimodal propulsion systems. Working together supported the creation of this innovative braking system which sees powered via a diesel engine generator and either a 3 kV DC or at 25 kV AC thanks to developments in technology and support from Škoda Group.

Bringing a new age of sustainability and technologically advanced rail solutions, this collaboration will see innovation pushed further, allowing the rail industry to support and promote environmental responsibility in the future.