| I also took this in Hradec Kralove. This is a Skoda Class 150 electric, dating to, at the earliest, 1978, but possibly newer. They were among the last electrics built under the old pre-1989 regime, and it can be said that these locomotives are much more capable than the 130s, being able to operate at 140Km/h (86 m.p.h.) on the level with a 10-car passenger train. This is adequate for most of their assignments, as the Cesky Drahy network is still very, very primitive, although not necessarily any worse (and in many cases better) than in the U.S., and is also fairly flat. Only the Pendolino and the very fastest EC and IC-numbered trains go faster, and then only up to 160Km/h (100 m.p.h.). In the near future, it's expected that the fastest lines will be upgraded to 200Km/h (125 m.p.h.), but that's still a few years away. Partly in preparation for this, since 1996 a number of Class 150s have been upgraded to Class 151s, capable of 160Km/h. |