POLAND: PKP Intercity has ordered a build of 200 km/h multi-system electric locomotives from Newag for use on international and domestic services.
The contract signed on October 22 covers an initial 10 locos valued at 258·6m złoty, with an option for a further five and the provision of maintenance services which could increase the total package to 388m złoty. Newag was reportedly sole bidder for the tender issued earlier this year.
Newag’s first multi-system locos for PKP IC will be equipped for operation on 3 kV DC, 15 kV 16·7 Hz and 25 kV 50 Hz. They will be fitted with ETCS onboard equipment, as well as a remote diagnostics system allowing real-time condition monitoring. Newag is required to deliver the first loco within 18 months of contract signing and all 10 within 42 months. The manufacturer must also obtain authorisation for them to operate in six countries: Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
PKP IC expects to deploy the multi-system locomotives on cross-border services to and from Germany and the Czech Republic, working trains from Warszawa, Przemyśl and Gdynia to Berlin, as well as hauling the Gdynia – Warszawa – Katowice – Wien service as far as Bohumin. They will also be used domestic routes linking the capital with Gdynia, Poznań, Wrocław, Katowice and Krakow.
‘I am glad that PKP Intercity is once again starting co-operation with a domestic company’, said Maciej Małecki, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets, during the ceremony. ‘This co-operation which shows that the modern technologies are being developed in Poland.’
‘These multi-system electrics will give us the opportunity to expand our cross-border services’, said PKP Intercity CEO Marek Chraniek. ‘Expansion of our fleet with additional electric vehicles will be another step on our way to achieve climate neutrality.’
In late 2020 PKP Intercity took delivery of the last of 30 EU160 Griffin electric locomotives, which had been ordered from Newag in May 2018 and September 2019 at a total cost of 551·4m złoty including maintenance. These 160 km/h locomotives are employed on domestic inter-city services.
