Today, the Province of Małopolska signed a contract with Newag S.A. to manufacture 12 IMPULS trains. The Nowy Sącz company will manufacture modern electric multiple units which will start operating on train routes in Małopolska by the end of this year. The gross value of the rolling stock ordered amounts to approx. PLN 300 million. The trains will be owned by the Province of Małopolska, and operated by the regional train company Koleje Małopolskie.
“The goal of the Province of Małopolska is to increase the role of rail transportation in Małopolska. To encourage local residents and tourists to use this mode of transportation we have to provide the most comfortable and high quality travelling conditions, the goal we have been pursuing persistently,” said Jacek Krupa, Marshal of Małopolska.
Under the contract, Newag will deliver six trains by the end of November this year (four IMPULS 45WE EMUs of five units each and two IMPULS 31WE of four units each) as well as warranty, servicing and maintenance services. The new trains will start carrying passengers as early as in December 2016. The remaining six EMUs will be delivered by 15 February 2017. The Province authorities may also exercise an option to purchase additional trains. The Board of Małopolska Province will make the decision concerning this matter within a month’s time.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to finalise the signing of this contract. We are even happier that this year, which marks the 140th anniversary of our company, more trains with NEWAG’s logo will appear on train routes of Małopolska,” said Zbigniew Konieczek, President of NEWAG S.A.
The new rolling stock will comply with strict European standards TSI (PRM, TSI NOI, TSI LOK&PAS, TSI SRT and TSI CCS), which will enhance the comfort of travelling for Małopolska passengers, in particular for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility. Passengers will be travelling in quiet, air-conditioned interiors equipped with ergonomic chairs, wi-fi and electric sockets. The EMUs will have a modern audio and visual passenger information system, interior monitoring, ticket machines and a passenger counting system. The four-unit IMPULS 31WE will have seating capacity of 200 (including 16 folding chairs) and the five-unit IMPULS 45WE will have seating capacity of 250 passengers (including 20 folding chairs).
IMPULS Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) manufactured by NEWAG are economical and safe – their electricity consumption is low due to energy recuperation to the overhead line. They meet strict European crashworthiness and resistance standards (according to EN 15227 C1 and PII according to EN 12663). The IMPULS trains will travel with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h.
IMPULS manufacturer, Newag S.A. is one of the oldest rolling stock companies in Poland with 140 year experience in its field. The portfolio of its products includes manufacturing electric and diesel multiple units, modernising diesel locomotives, manufacturing four-axle and six-axle electric locomotives, trams and modernising passenger cars. NEWAG S.A. is the Polish market leader in modernizing diesel locomotives.
The new IMPULS trains for Małopolska will be manufactured in Newag’s plant in Nowy Sącz.
The rolling stock will be purchased partially with funds from the project “The purchase of Electric Multiple Units for the development of Małopolska train service” within the Regional Operational Programme of Małopolska Province for the years 2014–2020. The project will be supervised by the Strategic Investments Department of the Marshal Office of Małopolska Province which will apply for € 42 000 000 from the EU funds. The Provincial budget and the Railway Fund will cover the remaining part of the project costs.