Poland: This year the state national operator, PKP Intercity, plans to add 10 eight-car Flirt trains by Stadler, two retrofitted four-car ED74 EMUs by Pesa, four EffiShunter 300 locomotives by CZ LOKO, and upgraded passenger coaches by several producers to its fleet.
PKP Intercity received the first two Flirt trains in the last quarter of 2022, and 10 more trains are expected in the coming months. With these vehicles produced at the plant in Siedlce, Stadler will complete the contract for PLN 1 bln (€248.3 mln) signed in the summer of 2019.
In the first half of 2023, Pesa plans to supply the last two retrofitted ED74 electric trains. The manufacturer had been upgrading 14 PKP’s trains built in 2007–2008 at its plant in Mińsk Mazowiecki since 2019. Now passengers can enjoy the air-conditioning system, sockets, seats for people with limited mobility, and bicycle stands.
In the first quarter of this year, CZ LOKO is expected to complete the delivery of 328 kW EffiShunter 300 two-axle shunting locomotives. The tender for 10 shunters was held in early November 2020. Negotiations were delayed, the contract for PLN 39.1 mln (€8.5 mln) was signed only in February 2021. Last year, PLK Intercity received six vehicles.
Delivery of six CZ LOKO’s EffiShunter 300 locomotives. Source: Dalibor Palko/CZ Loko
The national operator is expecting the first multi-system electric locomotive by Newag, too. The manufacturer agreed to deliver 10 vehicles with an option for five more. The contract signed in autumn 2021 is worth PLN 258 mln (€56.5 mln). The rolling stock is designed for operation at 15 and 25 kV AC lines or 3 kV DC lines and can reach 200 km/h.
In the first half of 2023, PKP intends to sign another contract with Newag. This time the manufacturer won a tender for the supply of 20 electric locomotives and their maintenance over five years. Compared to its offer of €112 mln, another bidder, Pesa, was ready to execute the contract for €120 mln. According to the local media, Newag’s success can be credited to lower maintenance costs. PKP is expected to receive Griffin single-system electric locomotives with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
First Newag Griffin electric locomotives for PKP Intercity. Source: Newag
PKP Intercity will strengthen its fleet with improved passenger coaches of various series by Fabryka Pojazdow Szynowych, 111/112ALux coaches by Compremum and TransTrain consortium, and 152A and 154A coaches by Pesa. The exact number of vehicles expected this year is not communicated.
In 2023, PKP Intercity also plans to sign a contract for 38 double-deck coaches for push-pull trains and 45 multi-system electric locomotives. The purchase is planned to amount to €482.5 mln. Another important contract expected to be signed this year will be for the supply of 63 multi-system electric locomotives with an option for 32 vehicles to operate at a maximum speed of 200 km/h. The plans of the operator include two tenders more. The first will be the largest tender in PKP’s history for the purchase of 300 passenger coaches with an option to order 150 units. The second tender provides for the modernisation of 50 passenger coaches to the COMBO standard.
Last January, PKP Intercity extended the long-term renewal programme to 2030. For the planned PLN 24.5 bln ($6.2 bln), the operator expects to build a fleet of 429 locomotives (+11%) and 109 trains (+47%). It has recently been revealed that another tender is being worked out as part of the programme. The operator is preparing to procure 23 multi-system trains to operate at a speed of up to 250 km/h. Rynek Kolejowy, a Polish monthly and site, suggests that the tender will be announced this or next year.
