Czech Railways begins testing 100% renewable diesel in 3 RegioFox locomotives

Photo: Czech Railways

Czech Railways, in cooperation with the Central Bohemian Region, announced Sept. 3 that it is continuing to test ecological fuel in modern RegioFox trains at the Rakovník depot.

In the next phase of testing, three selected railcars will use 100 percent hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel.

The modern RegioFox locomotives from PESA Bydgoszcz are equipped with modern combustion engines from Rolls-Royce that can use biofuels.

Thanks to this, České dráhy, in cooperation with the Central Bohemian Region and other partners, can carry out practical testing of HVO directly in everyday operation.

“The long-term strategy of Czech Railways is focused on improving the quality of life in the Czech Republic, and this also includes improving the environment,” said Jiří Ješeta, the vice chairman of the board and deputy general director of passenger transport for Czech Railways. “Our goal is to strengthen electric traction and reduce local emissions from combustion engines, but most of our lines are still not electrified and trains with combustion engines will run on them for several more decades. In such a case, an ecological fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil can contribute to environmental protection. I am glad that we can, in cooperation with the Central Bohemian Region and other partners, practically verify its use in full operation. We have successfully tested fuel with a 20 percent share of biocomponent. Thanks to cooperation with the Central Bohemian Region, we now have the opportunity to be the first railway carrier in our country to test fuel made only from vegetable oils.”

Petr Borecký, Central Bohemian councilor for public transport, added, “The Central Bohemian Region is located in the center of the Czech Republic and is extremely heavily burdened by intensive traffic. This naturally has an impact on the quality of the environment. If we want our region to be the best region for living in all aspects, including the environment, we must look for ways to reduce emissions from combustion engines in transport. In the railway sector, the electrification of busy lines is a priority. In the future, we are counting on the deployment of electric battery trains, but trains with combustion engines will also run here for some time. Therefore, it is important for us to verify whether it is possible to use fuel produced on a basis that is sustainable for our environment in everyday operation. In this regard, I would like to thank Czech Railways for joining us in testing fuel with a share of HVO. The tests so far show that this is a realistic path. We have therefore agreed with Czech Railways to also test normal operation with fuel that has 100 percent biocomponents based on HVO.”

3 phases of project completed, a 4th added

The project to test a biobased fuel based on HVO began in 2024 and was divided into three phases.

During the first phase, suitable fuel blends were identified, their certification was carried out, and the legislative framework for the use of sustainable fuels with a higher proportion of biocomponent was analyzed.

In the second phase, mixtures with different proportions of biocomponent were tested in PESA 847 series motor units at the VUZ Velim Test Center.

The Rolls-Royce engines of these units are approved for the use of biofuels, such as a mixture of diesel fuel and HVO.

The tests compared the parameters of train performance, fuel consumption and measured emissions for pure diesel fuel, a mixture of diesel fuel and biocomponent with a proportion of 15 percent or 30 percent and when operating on 100 percent biofuel.

Based on the evaluation of the measurements performed, the third phase of the project was initiated in April 2025, which was testing a diesel-fuel mixture with a 20 percent share of HVO on three units of the 847 RegioFox series on the Rakovník-Beroun and Beroun-Rudná u Prahy-Prague lines.

The project is currently entering another, originally unplanned fourth phase, when 100 percent HVO will be tested on the same vehicles and tracks as the previous third phase of the project.

HVO fuel complies with the ČSN EN 15940 standard, Annex II of the Fuel Quality Directive 2009/30/EC or the American specification ASTM D975.

HVO produced from different sources differs in quality.

The difference is mainly in the method of purification, hydrogen consumption and, above all, the emission footprint.

If HVO is produced from vegetable oil intended for fuel production, all activities related to its creation are included in the final emission footprint of the fuel.

Nevertheless, greenhouse-gas emission savings of 60 percent to 65 percent (CO2 equivalent) can be achieved compared to fossil fuel, according to Czech Railways.

In the case of using waste material, emission savings of 90 percent to o95 percent can be achieved compared to fuel of petroleum origin.