Czech Railways offers six Taurus locomotives at €2.26m–€2.46m each

Czech national operator ČD has launched a tender to sell six Siemens Taurus locomotives, priced at roughly €2.26 million to €2.46 million each, offered together with a stock of spare parts and materials.

The sale notice allows flexibility on scope. Bidders can submit offers for individual locomotives and selected spare parts, or bid for the complete package of six units plus the full parts inventory.

What is on offer?

The locomotives are three-system vehicles capable of operating under 3 kV DC, 25 kV 50 Hz AC and 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC electrification. They hold approvals for service in four countries: Czechia, Austria, Germany and Hungary. Two units, 1216 902 and 903, carry additional approvals covering Poland and Slovenia.

Each locomotive has a maximum speed of 230 km/h and continuous power of up to 6 MW. Four units, 1216 951 to 954, are equipped with Siemens Trainguard 200 IS2b ETCS. The other two, 1216 902 and 903, fit Polish SHP train protection and radio equipment instead — and carry no ETCS installation.

How worn are the units?

Siemens built the six locomotives between 2007 and 2011. Each has accumulated between 2 million and 2.5 million kilometres in service. That mileage, spread over roughly 15 to 18 years, averages out at around 130,000 to 160,000 km per locomotive per year.

ČD withdrew the class from operation during 2026. All six units are currently stored out of service.

Why is ČD selling?

The disposal forms part of ČD's fleet renewal and standardisation programme. The operator has already withdrawn its Class 150.2 and Class 151 locomotives, along with most Class 242 and Class 371 machines.

The next milestone arrives with the timetable change in mid-December 2026, when the Class 380 fleet is due to leave service. The Taurus sale removes another non-standard class from ČD's books while giving a second-hand buyer access to high-power, multi-system locomotives already approved across Central Europe.

For an operator or leasing firm, the appeal is tangible: 6 MW three-system capability, 230 km/h top speed and four-country approvals without the cost and lead time of a new-build order. The 16-year-old to 18-year-old fleet age and the 2 million-plus kilometre odometer readings are the trade-off — and the two non-ETCS units will need upgrading to run on ETCS-mandated corridors.