Hydra DMUs retirement closes 55-year ČD era

Hydra DMUs retirement is changing ČD’s scheduled diesel services between Prague, Kladno, and Rakovník. České dráhy is the Czech Republic’s national railway operator. It is ending planned 854 series DMU use on local and express trains. Also, the vehicles are widely known by the nickname “Hydra.” This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

According to České dráhy, the last scheduled 854 railcar service ran on Thursday, May 7. It operated between Kladno and Rakovník. It departed at 4:11 a.m. and reached Rakovník at 5:03 a.m. That journey ended regular operation for vehicles from the late 1960s. They were manufactured more than 55 years ago.

Regionova DMUs replace 854 series on the route

On the Prague–Kladno–Rakovník route, 814.2 Regionova DMUs will replace the 854 series. They will operate in a “trio” configuration. Also, these trains are partially accessible for passengers with reduced mobility.

The change will allow easier access to ČD trains. It applies to passengers who need step-free boarding. For example, it includes wheelchair users, seniors, young children, and other travelers for whom accessibility is important.

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In addition, accessible electric trains are set for introduction on the line in the future. Nationally, the 854 railcar retirement is linked to introducing new RegioFox DMUs. These will soon total 106 trains on Czech lines.

Some Hydra railcars remain available as reserves

The end of scheduled use does not remove all 854 series vehicles from service immediately. Still, some units will remain available as reserve stock. They may temporarily return to operation.

Meanwhile, five DMUs serve connections between Brno and Veselí nad Moravou in southern Moravia. In the Central Bohemia region, České dráhy is considering using some 854 DMUs. That would happen at the start of the travel season to Bochov. A higher number of passengers is expected there on the first day.

From the Vindobona express to regional trains

The 854 series DMUs were created by modernizing 852 and 853 series diesel vehicles. In addition, the original railcars were built at the Studénka railcar factory in the late 1960s.

Between 1969 and 1972, these railcars were also used on the international Vindobona express. That service connected Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. Separately, they later operated on domestic express trains, accelerated trains, and local services. Those services ran on non-electrified lines in Bohemia and Moravia.

In earlier decades, the vehicles were associated mainly with northern and eastern Bohemia. They were also associated with southern Moravia. In addition, between 1997 and 2006, they underwent an extensive modernization programme.

For example, the railcars received several nicknames linked to their operation or technical solutions. These included “Vindobona”, “Hydra”, and “Katr”. The Hydra DMUs retirement closes a long period in Czech regional diesel transport.

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