Seamless operations across corridors using ETCS Baseline 3 are now possible. The European Train Control System is a unified signalling system designed to improve safety, interoperability and efficiency across European rail networks. It also reopens operations in Austria, where ETCS-only operations are now allowed on dual-equipped Class B lines.
"Cross-border traffic is very important for freight transport in Europe. With the fully approved version VR01.5, our customers can continue to operate locomotives on corridors in Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia. This is an important step not only for us at Alstom, but for European rail interoperability as a whole," said Dan Kurucz, Managing Director of Alstom for Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Czech freight operators such as ČD Cargo and RegioJet have been granted this approval for their 388 series locomotives (388 201-231 for RegioJet and 388 001-026 for ČD Cargo). To date, 13 TRAXX locomotives for the RegioJet pool (388 219–231) have been delivered with software version VR01.5. The first six have been in operation on the Czech rail network since November 2024, having been granted a test operation permit by Czech State Railways. The remaining seven locomotives have now received international approval and will enter service beyond the Czech Republic progressively.
The Traxx Class 388 fleet, operated by ČD Cargo and RegioJet and still equipped with VR01.2 software, enabling operation without ETCS, will now be upgraded to VR01.5. The 386 series vehicles operated by Metrans will be equipped with Onvia Cab (formerly Atlas) on-board units.
