Nine-year financing supports the renewal of regional passenger services across electrified and non-electrified routes

EUROFIMA has provided a CZK 4 billion financing transaction with its Czech shareholder Ceské dráhy. The financing has a nine-year tenor and supports the acquisition of 94 regional trains, including 84 RegioFox diesel multiple units (DMUs) manufactured by PESA and 10 RegioPanter battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) manufactured by Škoda.

The first disbursement under the financing took place on 20 July 2026, marking the first drawdown under the framework agreement signed between EUROFIMA and ?eské dráhy in June 2024.

The financing supports the renewal of regional passenger services across the Czech rail network. The new fleet has been selected to meet the operational needs of both electrified and non-electrified routes, combining modern diesel and battery-electric technologies to provide reliable and efficient passenger services across different types of railway infrastructure.

“Regional rail investment must reflect the infrastructure available today while supporting the gradual transition to lower-emission operation. Long-term financing plays an important role in enabling operators to modernise their fleets at a pace that reflects operational needs and investment cycles. This first drawdown demonstrates how our partnership with Ceské dráhy is translating into tangible investment in regional mobility,” said Christoph Pasternak, CEO at EUROFIMA.

The financed fleet combines two complementary technologies.

The two-car RegioFox DMUs are equipped with latest-generation diesel engines and are designed for operation on non-electrified regional lines. The units are being deployed across several regions of the Czech Republic, providing modern rolling stock for routes where overhead electrification is not available.

The two-car RegioPanter BEMUs can draw power from both 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC overhead lines and operate on onboard lithium-titanate oxide batteries. They offer a battery range of up to 80 kilometres and recharge while operating under overhead lines. The units are being introduced in the Moravian-Silesian Region, where they can serve routes that are not fully electrified without direct CO2 emissions during battery operation.

The transaction reflects EUROFIMA's mission to provide long-term financing for rolling-stock investment that strengthens regional connectivity and supports the gradual transition towards lower-emission rail transport across Europe.

For more information, please do not hesitate contact Aurélia Gerber, Head of Treasury & Capital Markets, aurelia.gerber@eurofima.org, Luca Nardi, Rolling stock Manager, luca.nardi@eurofima.org, Nofal Shehzad, Senior Funding Officer nofal.shehzad@eurofima.org or Dirk Dombrowski, Head of Middle office, dirk.dombrowski@eurofima.org.