After two years, NEWAG S.A. broke its own speed record. NEWAG-manufactured train travelled with a speed of 226km/h along the CMK — Central Rail Line between Psary and Góra Włodowska. The IMPULS 45WE manufactured for Koleje Mazowieckie is the fastest rail vehicle designed and manufactured in Poland.
The success can be attributed to the team of young engineers (their average age is 31 years) from the Research and Development Department at NEWAG S.A. in Nowy Sącz.
“From the design point of view, the train which is being tested today features technical solutions equivalent to those used in trains manufactured by world’s leading rolling stock manufacturers,” said Mariusz Bernaś, Head of the R&D Department. “The IMPULS family of rail vehicles represents a group of trains designated for operation on regional and inter-regional routes and provides a springboard for designing high speed trains, a realistic equivalent to Pendolino,” he added.
During the test, parameters of the main components such as bogies (running gear), the power transmission system, the braking system and the pantograph – overhead contract line interaction were tested. The results obtained confirmed numerical simulations performed earlier.
“The train worked very well. It accelerated smoothly to a speed of 220 plus and it could have run faster if we had had appropriate consent from Instytut Kolejnictwa [The Railway Institute],” said Andrzej Markowski, a train-driver — instructor at Koleje Mazowieckie. “It should be stressed that this vehicle is very intuitive to drive and it is simple to operate. I confirm my colleagues’ opinions who have spoken very highly of this rail vehicle,” he added.
“All parameters related to safety and speed stability are according to our expectations and none of the parameters has exceeded allowed values, leaving a large safety margin,” stated Grzegorz Wysocki from the Railway Institute.
The IMPULS– type train meets all the latest requirements and therefore ensures safety, reliability and low operation costs. High comfort and safety level while travelling at a speed of 200km/h are provided thanks to the use of bogies designed in compliance with the latest TSI LOC & PASS requirements as well as with relevant standards.
This is the first Polish rail vehicle which meets the latest restrictive EU directives introduced in 2014.
“We are proud to say that we are among leaders of European rolling stock manufacturers. IMPULS 45WE manufactured for Koleje Mazowieckie is the only rail vehicle in Poland fully compliant with the TSI and one of the few trains in Europe which meets the latest EU requirements,” said Maciej Duczyński, Deputy President of the Board of NEWAG S.A. “It proves that our team of young designers, if we receive such an order, will be able to design a high quality high speed train,” he added.