Poland’s state-owned railway operator PKP Intercity has received four applications from global rolling stock manufacturers vying to supply 20 electric multiple units capable of reaching 320 km/h. The tender also covers maintenance for up to 30 years and the construction of a dedicated workshop, with an option to order an additional 35 trains.
The initial procurement was announced in December 2025, and the deadline for submitting participation requests was extended to 25 June 2026 at the request of potential bidders. PKP Intercity has now revealed the names of the four consortia and companies that passed the first administrative hurdle.
The candidates are: a consortium led by Hitachi Rail STS S.p.A. with Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz SA (Hitachi is known for Japan’s Shinkansen trains), a consortium led by Siemens Mobility Sp. z o.o. with Siemens Mobility GmbH (supplier of Germany’s ICE trains), Alstom (already present on Polish tracks with its Pendolino units), and Patentes Talgo SL, a Spanish manufacturer of high-speed rolling stock.
Verification and competitive dialogue
In the coming weeks, PKP Intercity will evaluate the submitted documentation. Companies that meet all formal requirements will be invited to a competitive dialogue stage, during which the final scope of the order will be negotiated. Bids are expected in July 2027, and the winner should be announced in October 2027.
The key technical requirement is the ability to operate at a maximum speed of 320 km/h. Each train will be approximately 200 metres long and must include first and second class compartments, a quiet zone, a bar or restaurant area, spaces for passengers with reduced mobility, family-friendly features, and bicycle storage. Final specifications will be refined during the dialogue.
Routes and future expansion
The first 20 trains will serve the so-called „Y” line, connecting Warsaw, Łódź, Wrocław, and Poznań. If the option for 35 additional units is exercised, PKP Intercity plans to increase frequency to every 30 minutes on key corridors. The company is also analysing extensions to international routes, including Warsaw–Łódź–Wrocław–Prague and Warsaw–Łódź–Wrocław–Leipzig, with a four-hour or two-hour cycle.
Further down the line, the high-speed fleet could be deployed on the planned new line no. 5 linking Warsaw, Płock, Grudziądz, Gdańsk, and Gdynia, strengthening the connection between the capital and the Tricity area.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Marcin Kadziolka / Shutterstock (Alstom Pendolino), Lutsenko_Oleksandr / Shutterstock (Siemens ICE), Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock (Talgo), Dariusz Malinowski / PTWP
