The Prime Minister on Pendolino train
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On 3 May 2006 Mr. Jiří Paroubek, Prime Minister of the Government of the Czech Republic traveled by scheduled SC Pendolino train. Right aboard the train he announced release of a financial contribution of the current Government of the Czech Republic for further financing of railway transport services provided in the CR. At the same time Czech Railways counts on using these means to finance modernization of passenger transport rolling stock too.
During the journey SC Pendolino train turned into a mobile ”boardroom“, when in the course of running at the speed of up to 160 km/h several meetings took place – i.a. with Czech Railways´ management and representatives of Czech Railways´ trade unions. Aboard SC Pendolino train Mr. Josef Bazala, Director General of Czech Railways and Mr. Jiří Zapletal, Director General of Škoda Holding signed the agreement on delivery of further 30 double-deck suburban 471 units for Czech Railways. These units are produced by ČKD Vagonka based in Ostrava, a subsidiary company of Škoda Holding a.s. – and the agreement on delivery of further 30 three-car double-deck train sets follows deliveries of other thirty of these trains already realized. Total amount of the contract signed is approximately CZK 6 billion.
The Prime Minister arrived by Czech Railways´ SC Pendolino on his visit to Ostrava bang on time. As well as Mr Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, who used SC Pendolino train roughly a month ago, the Prime Minister used SC Pendolino train as an ordinary passenger with the valid 1st Class ticket bought for CZK 600 too.