NEWAG S.A. from Nowy Sącz will provide five electric multiple units ordered by the regional authorities of Opole Province. They will operate on the route between Kędzierzyn Koźle, Opole, Brzeg and Wrocław. The first ‘IMPULS’ – as the newly-ordered trains are called, will appear on tracks in early July 2016.
Today, a contract for the supply of five IMPULS electric multiple units with an option for two additional trains was signed at the Marshal Office of Opole Province in Opole. These will be the first IMPULS trains supplied by NEWAG S.A. to the Opole Province.
These electric multiple units are one of the most modern trains of this type on the Polish market offered not only by Polish manufacturers. They have been adapted to travel with a maximum speed of 160km/h, and recently, they have beaten the speed record reaching 226km/h. They will be fitted with cutting-edge drive and braking systems, air-conditioning, modern audio-video passenger information system and a monitoring system. The train seating capacity will be 176 (passenger seats fitted with AC 230V sockets) and passengers will have free Wi-Fi. The trains will be adjusted to transporting passengers with reduced mobility and bicycles.
“The Province of Opole is the 11th province which has bought IMPULS electric multiple units. Our trains are already travelling on the majority of routes in Poland,” said Bartosz Krzemiński, Deputy President of NEWAG S.A. “I do believe that the Opole local authorities will be satisfied with the choice they have made. Our IMPULS trains are safe, comfortable for both passengers and train crews, and most importantly, they do not break down. Their reliability rate exceeds 99%,” he added.
Andrzej Buła, Province Marshal, emphasises that the local authorities have been systematically investing in improving travelling conditions in the region. “These modern trains will be servicing the most popular routes in the region and we hope that passengers who will change into these cutting-edge trains will feel the difference in travelling conditions,” he said.
The contract provides for the supply of five trains until 31.01.2018 in its basic scope with an option for two additional trains delivered until 10.12.2018. The contract value in the basic scope is PLN 51 300 000 net. The total value of the contract with NEWAG is PLN 71 820 000 net. The contract will be funded from four sources: the budget of Opolskie Province, specific reserve in the State budget, the Railway Fund and the Regional Operational Programme for Opole Province for the years 2014–2020 which will provide EUR 15.5 million.
Residents of Opole Province will be able to travel on the first three IMPULS trains as early as next year. The last ordered electric multiple unit will be delivered in December 2018.
Considering that passenger transport has been mostly implemented with the use of worn-out rolling stock which has been in operation on average for 35 years, the new rolling stock will significantly improve travelling comfort and safety on the E –30 railway route between Kędzierzyn Koźle and Wrocław, which has been modernised by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.