UZ Class 675


EJ 675 is a double decker electric multiple unit by Škoda Vagonka a subsidiary of Škoda Transportation, operated by the Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia. It is a variant of the Czech railways class 471 "City Elefant" adapted for soviet gauge railways.

History

Two electric trains of the 675 EJ series were purchased Ukrzaliznytsia Southern Railways in preparation for the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer championship for 39.9 million EUR. They were to be the first of a series of between 50 and 60 trains intended to reorganize inter-regional passenger traffic, however no further units were purchased.
The trains were used on a series of routes, centered around Kharkiv reaching Donetsk, Dnipro, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mariupol and Simferopol. Following the 2014 Russian occupation of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk the trains served mainly the route between Kharkiv and Kyiv, gradually extended westwards towards Vinnytsia and Ternopil.
Currently, both trainsets are out of use, awaiting major repairs. However, Ukrzaliznytsia is incapable of undertaking such heavy work, and is tendering internationally to find a company who will be able to carry out the necessary repairs.

Characterization and electric equipment

The electric multiple unit consists of two power car and four passenger cars in between. It has at total of 636 seats, of which 46 are first class, 590 are second class. The trains are equipped with 4 lifts for wheelchairs and special toilets.
The total traction power - 4000kVt.