The first of 25 Class 660 RegioPanter electric multiple-units which national passenger operator ŽSSK ordered from a consortium of Škoda Transportation and local partner ŽOS Trnava in March 2018 was unveiled on February 6.

The order comprises 13 three-car EMUs with a capacity of 247 seated and 212 standing passenger, and 12 four-car trainsets with 343 seats and space for 285 standees

The partly low-floor dual-system 3 kV DC/25 kV 50 Hz units are rated at 2 MW and have a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Features include power sockets, air-conditioning, LED lighting, CCTV, wi-fi, passenger information systems, wheelchair spaces and areas for pushchairs and bicycles.

The first of the EMUs are scheduled to enter service in mid-2020, with all 25 to be delivered by the end of 2022 for use on services from Žilina to Trenčín, Čadca and Liptovský Mikuláš, and from Čadca to Zwardoń on the Polish border.

The €160m cost of the largest order to be placed by ŽSSK is being financed with €134·6m from the EU’s Cohesion Fund and €23·8m from the state budget, with the remainder from ŽSSK’s own resources.