Škoda Group has announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with Speno International, experts in railway track and turnout reprofiling.

The two companies will work together on system integration engineering and authorisation services to introduce the European Train Control System (ETCS) to fifteen of Speno’s yellow fleet vehicles. The new contract sees Škoda expanding to Switzerland for the first time.

ETCS is a technology designed to enhance railway safety, reliability and efficiency, and will be integrated into four Speno vehicles within the next two years, and an additional eleven vehicles after that. The partnership aims to incorporate ETCS into five different types of fleet vehicles, but will need to secure authorisation in sixteen different countries, each of which has its own unique set of National Technical Rules (NNTR). To address this, the project will start with a comprehensive assessment and analysis of NNTR requirements in each country.

Škoda Group’s acquisition of The Signalling Company earlier this year has made it more competitive within the European train manufacturing industry, empowering the group to offer a comprehensive portfolio of products and services to rail operators across Europe.

Currently, The Signalling Company is equipping one hundred and ten locomotives with ETCS for Lineas, Europe’s largest private freight rail operator, which is headquartered in Belgium. Škoda Group also has experience in retrofitting vehicles with ETCS within the Czech market.

Škoda Group produces a range of rail machinery and components, including low floor trams, electric locomotives, suburban train units, metro sets, electric buses and trolleybuses, and control and drive systems for transport systems. It employs eight thousand workers at production sites in the Czech Republic and Finland, and has business units in Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary,and Ukraine.

Škoda Group is a part of PPF Group, which is an international investment company operating in twenty-five countries and multiple sectors, including telecommunications, media, e-commerce,and financial services.

Jan Christoph Harder, President of Region West and North Škoda Group, expressed the significance of this partnership: “Our collaboration with Speno International marks a milestone in the European market. ETCS plays a crucial role in the modernisation of railway networks and the enhancement of overall safety. This technology optimizes rail operations by reducing accident risks, increasing network capacity, and promoting cross-border compatibility. With the recent acquisition of The Signalling Company earlier this year, we have expanded our portfolio to include ETCS technology and the expertise required for seamless integration into the vehicles. As Europe transitions to a unified system, we stand ready to leverage our knowledge and experience to contribute to this important evolution.”

Stanislas Pinte, Vice President Signalling at Škoda Group, said, “The European Train Control System stands as a common European signalling system designed to ensure unified railway operations and enhance safety across the continent. It replaces a multitude of previously disparate and often outdated national systems. ETCS comprises two fundamental components: the on-board unit, directly installed on vehicles, and the trackside equipment, placed along railway tracks. While essential for high-speed rail networks, ETCS is also crucial for enhancing safety on standard rail lines.”