PKP Intercity received the first 2 out of 12 Flirt EMUs manufactured at the factory in Siedlce by Stadler Polska which will deliver the entire fleet until the third quarter of 2023. The new EMUs are part of the PLN 1 billion (EUR 204.7 million) contract signed with Stadler which includes maintenance for 15 years.
These first two Flirt trains will enter operation, but they will be subjected to exploitation observed in passenger traffic until they reach a mileage of at least 400,000 km in total. The acceptance of the last units is to be completed in the third quarter of 2023.
The Flirt electric multiple units are equipped with air conditioning and monitoring systems, electric sockets, GSM / LTE signal amplifiers and Wi-Fi. The trains will deliver passengers increased comfort and dedicated place for the transport of bicycles and are also adapted to people with disabilities. During the journey, PKP Intercity will be able to offer hot and cold dishes and drinks, served both in the passenger seat and in the catering area. At the second class, the new units provide 294 seats and 61 at the 1st class.
The vehicles are adapted to the needs of various groups of travellers such as cyclists, families with children or people with disabilities. There is a platform on board to facilitate boarding in wheelchairs and with mobility problems. This will improve the accessibility so that as many passengers as possible can use the trains in a safe and comfortable way,” Jarosław Oniszczuk, Member of the Management Board of PKP Intercity explained.
The new EMUs are fully compliant with the latest TSI and equipped with the ETCS Guardia on-board system designed and manufactured by Stadler’s railway traffic control business. The Guardia system supports both ETCS level 1 and 2, as well as a conventional class B safety system. This means that the vehicle meets the highest safety standards in the field of railway traffic management. Switching between systems takes place dynamically, without the need to stop the vehicle. As a consequence, the system enables the vehicle to be operated while maintaining the highest safety standards, with full dynamic transition between ETCS Level 1, 2 and traditional system.
“We are glad that new modern vehicles strengthen the PKP Intercity train fleet. Initial plans assume that the newest Flirt vehicles will run throughout Poland, includig from Gdynia via Łódź to Kraków. Therefore, many residents of the cities located along the routes will be able to take advantage of them,” Marek Chraniek, the President of the Management Board of PKP Intercity said.
The 12 Flirt EMUs will enter operation on six rail routes crossing Poland’s main cities:
- Szczecin – Poznań – Łódź – Lublin
- Szczecin – Poznań – Łódź – Kraków
- Gdynia – Bydgoszcz – Łódź – Kraków
- Gdynia – Bydgoszcz – Łódź – Katowice
- Olsztyn – Warszawa – Kraków
- Olsztyn/Białystok – Warszawa – Częstochowa – Bielsko Biała/Racibórz.
When designed and constructed, the manufacturer considered environmental protection using ecological and recyclable materials.The energy recovery system ensures that the trains will return the energy generated during braking to the overhead contact line.Acoustic soundproofing will result in less noise emission to the interior of the vehicle, which increases the comfort of travel and work of train crews.
The new currently delivered Flirt fleet is compatible with the Flirt trains delivered by Stadler in 2015 which allows the combination between the two series of trains.This possibility gives PKP Intercity great operational flexibility.
Share on:
