Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD), the railway operator in Lower Silesia, has announced its plans to purchase 11 new trains, of which six electro-diesel trains, which will be the first such trains in Poland. EUR 65.5 million (PLN 280 million) is the estimated valued of the new trains. EUR 20 million (PLN 85.1 million) will be covered by the Centre for EU Transport Projects. The Lower Silesian Voivodship will also guarantee a bank loan for the procurement of the new rolling stock.
Under the tender procedure, the operator will acquire six 3-car hybrid trains with a capacity of 320 passengers and five 5-car EMUs with a capacity of minimum 550 passengers.
It is expected that the first trains will be delivered in 2022. According to the timeline, the 11 new trains will enter services between 2022 and 2023.
The KD is considering future options which will bring the order to 41 new trains, of which 10 hybrid trains and 20 EMUs. The company intends to purchase additional vehicles as an option, if the external funds, mainly EU funds, are available. The total value of the train procurement is estimated at EUR 234 million (PLN 1 billion). “Using the option, our fleet will increase by 75%. It is the largest investment in region’s history,” Damian Stawikowski, the president of Lower Silesian Railway said.
The hybrid trains will be deployed on the railway routes from Trzebnica to Świdnica, via Wrocław and Sobótka.
The new EMUs will provide transport services by on the two railway routes connecting Jelcz Laskowice with Wrocław area.
In 2019, KD carried 14.1 million passengers, representing an increase by 2.4 million passengers compared to 2017.
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