Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM), the commuter rail operator in Warsaw region, has started the trials with the first two new Impuls 2 trains which already travelled 200 km on the S3 line connecting Warsaw West (Warsaw Zachodnia station) with Wieliszew. They were delivered in January 2021 and by the end of this year, the operator will benefit a new EMU fleet from Newag.
“The new trains will operate the current routes of SKM to increase the number of seats and the comfort of passengers. We will also use them to expand the SKM network and as soon as the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure allows it, we want to provide direct train services to Piaseczno [approximately 16 km south of Warsaw],” Katarzyna Strzegowska, the director of Warsaw Public Transport Authority said.
“The tests will be carried out on the Warsaw Railway Junction and will obtain the technical acceptance after will travel 600 km without faults which will ensure the safety of passengers. Test drives are also used to train drivers who must be certified to operate vehicles of this type,” Alan Beroud, the CEO of SKM explained.
During the trials, the functioning of the vehicle on the rail route, the operation of on-board devices, such as the ticket machines and the passenger information system, are checked.
Each of the drivers who will drive the Impuls 2 train with passengers on board must pass the authorisation, following 36 hours of supervision.
If the tests will be successful, the trains will be included in the timetable to enter regular services, initially scheduled on the S2 line connecting Sulejówek (18 km east of Warsaw city centre) and Warsaw Chopin Airport.
The new Impuls 2 trains are manufactured by Newag and are supplied under a contract signed in 2020 for the supply of 21 EMUs of which 15 five-car trains and 6 four-car trains. PLN 667.9 million (EUR 147.7 million) is the value of the contract which is co-financed by the European Union with a EUR 46 million funding.
The first train entered commercial operation in July 2021 and another batch of two EMUs is scheduled to be delivered this month while two others in mid-March.
According to the contract, Newag is to deliver all the EMU fleet by the end of November 2022. The contract with Newag also includes training of employees in the field of train service and a 7-year maintenance period.
Share on:
