The ČD maintenance facility in Havlíčkův Brod gives České dráhy a stronger technical base for its modern regional trains. The new repair hall is intended mainly for RegioPanter and RegioFox trains, as the Czech operator continues to upgrade both its fleet and the service infrastructure that supports it.

ČD maintenance facility boosts regional fleet care
ČD maintenance facility boosts regional fleet care

Czech national rail operator České dráhy has opened the workshop at its Havlíčkův Brod maintenance center. According to České dráhy, the investment exceeds 235 million Czech korunas, or more than 9 million EUR, and is part of a wider program to modernize the company’s technical facilities. For ČD, the project links new rolling stock with the maintenance capacity needed to keep regional services reliable.

Havlíčkův Brod sits at an important railway junction between Bohemia and Moravia. From this site, ČD will support the maintenance of trains used mainly in the Vysočina and Pardubice regions. The rolling stock based there also runs on routes across five Czech regions, which gives the depot a role beyond a purely local workshop.

ČD maintenance facility built for modern regional trains

The new depot has a through-track layout, two tracks, and a total length of 67 meters. It gives České dráhy modern technological infrastructure for maintaining and repairing regional trains at a time when the operator is rapidly renewing its fleet. In that sense, the Havlíčkův Brod maintenance center is part of the company’s shift toward newer regional vehicles.

Inside the repair hall, staff have access to inspection pits and roof-access walkways for work on different parts of the trains. The facility also includes a double-girder overhead crane with a lifting capacity of up to 12.5 tons, electromechanical jacks for lifting rail vehicles, and exhaust gas extraction systems. The same project covered staff facilities, an oil storage area, and a wastewater treatment plant.

ČD will use the workshop mainly for RegioPanter electric multiple units and RegioFox diesel units introduced on regional services. At the same time, Havlíčkův Brod also maintains RegioShark trains and RegioSpider railcars. More than 50 railcars and units from seven different series are based at the center.

These vehicles operate from Havlíčkův Brod toward Kolín, Pardubice, Tišnov, Znojmo, and Slavonice. Because the base supports several routes and different train series, the new hall works not only as a technical upgrade but also as a practical addition to regional transport maintenance.

RegioPanter and RegioFox maintenance gains stronger support

Tomáš Honomichl, Deputy General Director of České dráhy responsible for maintenance, said investment in new rolling stock must be accompanied by modern service support. He noted that ČD has invested significantly in fleet renewal in recent years and has introduced dozens of new trains on Czech railways. That has increased the need for maintenance facilities able to handle newer vehicles efficiently.

Tomáš Honomichl described Havlíčkův Brod as one of ČD’s key repair hubs on the border between Bohemia and Moravia. He said the new facility will help provide better, more efficient, and more technologically advanced maintenance for modern regional trains. He also stressed that a high-quality service base is essential for reliable operation and a high level of passenger comfort.

Martin Kukla, governor of the Vysočina Region, also pointed to the importance of the project. He noted that Havlíčkův Brod has long been a major railway hub in the area, while the new workshop should contribute to faster and better train maintenance. For passengers, he said, this matters because they expect comfortable and reliable regional transport.

Hala HB consortium delivered the repair workshop

Construction was carried out by the Hala HB consortium, which consists of Chládek a Tintěra Havlíčkův Brod and TSS GRADE. Petr Suchý, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Chládek & Tintěra, said the project was completed on time, in line with the investor’s requirements, and to the promised quality standard.

Petr Heiland, head of the commercial department at TSS GRADE, said the new facility gives employees a modern working environment and technologies that should support more reliable vehicle maintenance. He also emphasized that passengers will benefit from the investment, since quality maintenance is essential for stable operation of new trains in the Vysočina region.

Havlíčkův Brod becomes a stronger ČD service center

The ČD maintenance facility follows other investments made by České dráhy in Havlíčkův Brod. In its 2024 annual report, ČD Group also described the construction of new maintenance halls in Cheb and Havlíčkův Brod as part of its wider service-facility modernization. In 2023, the operator opened a new rail vehicle wash at the same site, a project worth nearly 90 million Czech korunas, or more than 3.7 million EUR.

The wash facility uses modern eco-friendly technology, including water recycling and its own wastewater treatment plant. It can use recycled and treated water for up to 80% of its needs. The system is fully automated and can operate throughout the year.

Its maximum theoretical capacity is 25 vehicles in 24 hours, although actual use is lower because most trains are in regular passenger service during the day. In practice, the wash facility handles about 150 vehicles per month. Some trains from the Prague area are also being washed temporarily in Havlíčkův Brod while České dráhy modernizes the washing facility at its largest depot in the capital.