Newag S.A. in Nowym Sączu has produced the first IMPULS EMU ordered by Łódzka Kolei Aglomeracyjna [Łódź Commuter Railways]. This train operator will be the first in Poland to receive the new generation train. IMPULS 2 will be longer, even more reliable and comfortable. It will start transporting passengers from December this year.
Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (ŁKA) ordered 14 three-section EMUs from NEWAG. The first train was officially presented on 18 June at the company Nowy Sącz headquarters. It will commence test rides in Kraków in late June and on the test track in Żmigród in early July. The European premiere of the EMU will take place in Berlin during INNOTRANS International Rail Fair. The train will also be presented in Łódź in September.
‘The delivery of IMPULS 2 EMUs will start the second stage of the development of Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna. The new trains will enable the carrier to develop its network of connections to include new towns in the Łódź Province. Thanks to ŁKA and the record results achieved in passenger transport in 2017, Łódź Province had the biggest rail transport growth in Poland,’ said Witold Stępień, Marshal of Łódz Province. “It can be seen that residents appreciate the new rolling stock and high comfort of travelling,’ he added.
IMPULS 2 EMUs are cutting-edge trains. One can easily notice the differences between these trains and the first generation of IMPULS trains.
“We are very glad to be able to present the first IMPULS 2 train manufactured for the Łódź Province in the presence of Witold Stepień, Marshal of Łódz Province and Janusz Malinowski, CEO of Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna. We are convinced that our extensive experience in using IMPULS Electric Multiple Units guarantee very high reliability and availability of the second generation of IMPULS trains. The vehicle presented today meets all the requirements of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (2014), ensuring comfortable and safe travelling for passengers,’ said Józef Michalik, Deputy President of NEWAG S.A.
The trains for ŁKA will feature such novel facilities as the kids zone with a board game table top and a dice, shelves under windows in vis-a-vis seat arrangement, defibrillators and numbered seats.
‘When preparing the public tender for the new trains, we took into consideration our experiences as well as passengers’ suggestions. We are transporting more and more passengers that is why we decided to order longer, three-section trains,’ said Janusz Malinowski, CEO of Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna. ‘The highest passenger density is in Łódź agglomeration therefore the trains will be low-floored with a big number of doors, which will facilitate passenger exchange. Our goal is to promote new solutions and comfort: the IMPULS trains will feature free wi-fi, electric sockets with USB chargers, ticket machines, monitors and spaces for transporting bicycles,’ he adds.
Starting from December, the new trains will serve the routes in the Łódź Province: to Piotrków Trybunalski, Radomsko and Tomaszów Mazowiecki. ŁKA will also serve the routes in the northern part of the province: Skierniewice – Łowicz – Kutno.
The gross value of the contract is PLN 266,968,762.35. Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna obtained co-financing amounting to PLN 164,586,425.39 for implementing this investment project from the Regional Operational Programme for Łódź Province. NEWAG will also be responsible for maintaining the EMUs for twelve years.