Poland: Four three-car Impuls 2 (36WEh) trains, capable of running on either catenary or a Stage V diesel engine, have commenced operation on a route between Gdynia and Kartuzy.
The section between Gdynia and Kościerzyna is served by diesel traction, enabling a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The remainder of the route is operated using the catenary, with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. It is stated that the changeover from one traction system to the other takes about one minute.
The contract was secured in 2023 between Newag and the Pomeranian Voivodeship. A portion of the total cost of PLN 128 mln (€28 mln) is financed by the EU funds. Similar trains are already in operation in Greater Poland, Western Pomerania, Lower Silesia, Lubusz Voivodeship, and Łódź Voivodeship.
Zbigniew Konieczek, CEO of Newag, has previously indicated that the company is examining the viability of utilising supercapacitors to reduce diesel fuel consumption by up to 35%.