Slovakia - ZSSK is looking for additional double-decker units for fast trains on the Bratislava – Žilina route

The competition is for two units, with an option for two more.

On Wednesday, Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK) announced a public tender for the purchase of new electric units for the Bratislava – Žilina line. It is seeking two units, with an option to purchase additional ones, and plans to finance the purchase through a European subsidy.

The carrier made the announcement about the tender in a press release. The estimated value of the contract is EUR 102 million. The units are expected to be deployed in 2026 and 2028.

The line between Bratislava and Žilina is one of the busiest in Slovakia. According to estimates, the number of passengers is expected to increase further by 2030, mainly due to the anticipated 23% rise in the population of Bratislava.

The new units will have a seating capacity of 560 seats and a top speed of 160 km/h. They are to be single-system and equipped with ETCS. The tender also specifies a maximum energy consumption of 12 kWh per train kilometre, which is intended to help reduce emissions from public transport.

Although the documentation does not explicitly state that the units must be double-deckers, the required combinations of length and capacity make this clear. In the past, ZSSK has acquired four Stadler KISS units in this manner.