Major SKM train modernisation programme: another contract signed

Szybka Kolej Miejska is continuing its programme of major overhauls of its train fleet. Today, the company’s Management Board signed a contract with the Polish company Public Transport Service (PTS) for the full modernisation of another 13 trains. In total, Warsaw, with support from Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO), will spend PLN 815 million gross on major overhauls of SKM trains. The contract signed today is worth PLN 475.15 million gross.

A significant part of this amount will come from the city budget. On Thursday, 17 September, the Warsaw City Council allocated PLN 260 million to support Szybka Kolej Miejska. The funds will be used for the overhaul and modernisation of the city rail operator’s trains.

What does the contract include?

For almost half a billion zlotys, PTS will carry out major overhauls, known in railway terminology as P5 inspections, on 13 trains operated by the city rail operator: nine 35WEa units (Impuls I trains) and four 19WE trains, commonly referred to as the “19s”.

“SKM is carrying out a major programme to thoroughly modernise its fleet. Thanks to this programme, Warsaw and its residents will have trains that are almost as good as new. This is a faster and more efficient way to improve the quality of the fleet than replacing all the trains with new ones. The waiting time for a new train can be as long as three years, while a modernised train can be ready much sooner, within five to eight months. Major overhauls are also a more environmentally friendly solution, as they can extend a train’s service life to as much as 30 years,” says Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw.

“I would like to thank the management of Szybka Kolej Miejska for bringing the contract to the signing stage, as well as the contractor responsible for the overhaul. I would also like to point out that passengers using Warszawski Transport Publiczny rate public transport in the capital very highly. One of the reasons for this is our investment in modern vehicles and the modernisation of the existing fleet,” the Mayor of Warsaw adds.

Major improvements for passengers

Passengers using the city rail service will notice many changes, starting with the passenger information system. The modernised trains will have new or refurbished seats covered with eco-leather, in line with Warszawski Transport Publiczny standards. They will also have new windows and glass designed to reduce heating of the interior during hot weather, USB-A and USB-C charging ports, as well as additional handrails and handles.

The bicycle areas will also be improved, with new docking-style bicycle racks. Accessibility for passengers with disabilities will be improved as well. Each train will have two better adapted wheelchair spaces and two ramps, located at the front and rear of the train.

“In practice, this is a complete rebuilding of the vehicle. It significantly extends its service life while also improving the standard of travel. We want different groups of passengers to notice and benefit from the modernisation. Cyclists will have better space for transporting bicycles, passengers with reduced mobility will benefit from improved accessibility, and all passengers will enjoy greater comfort. The modernisation also covers the driver’s cab, where new seats and other improvements will make working conditions more comfortable,” says Maria Wasiak, President of the Management Board of SKM Warszawa.

The scope of work also includes measures to improve safety. The trains will be equipped with a system notifying the driver when the cabinet containing the defibrillator is opened. A dedicated space for the train manager will also be created, while the CCTV system will be modified so that the driver can be immediately alerted if an unauthorised person is detected on the front coupling of the train.

“This solution is intended to help train crews respond more quickly when people engage in dangerous behaviour. In particular, it addresses the problem of train surfing and people entering areas where they should never be,” emphasises the President of Szybka Kolej Miejska.

The entire exterior body of each train will also be repainted and protected with an anti-graffiti coating, making it easier and faster to remove the effects of vandalism.

Fast and effective modernisation

The modernisation work will be carried out by Public Transport Service (PTS), a Polish company selected through an open tender. PTS is based in Paterek, in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, and carries out rail fleet maintenance and modernisation projects in various parts of Poland.

The contract with SKM is worth PLN 475.15 million gross. For this amount, PTS will carry out major overhauls, known in railway terminology as P5 inspections, on 13 trains operated by the city rail operator: nine 35WEa units (Impuls I trains) and four 19WE trains, commonly referred to as the “19s”.

“We have been working with SKM since 2021, when we started with smaller repairs and inspections of the city’s trains. We are pleased to continue this cooperation and grateful for the trust placed in us. I can promise that passengers will be satisfied with the comfort offered by the trains we modernise,” says Robert Karwasz, President of the Management Board of PTS.

The first train covered by the second stage of the programme will be sent for modernisation at the end of October this year. The final one of the 13 trains is scheduled to be accepted at the end of November 2028. A significant part of the modernisation contract will be financed from the city budget.

“I am pleased to announce that at yesterday’s session, Warsaw City Council members allocated PLN 260 million to Szybka Kolej Miejska. These funds will finance the base order under SKM’s major train modernisation programme,” said Piotr Wertenstein-Żuławski, Chair of the Infrastructure and Investment Committee of the Warsaw City Council.

SKM fleet: modern and comfortable

In 2022, with support from European funds, Warsaw purchased 21 new Impuls II trains from Newag, based in Nowy Sącz. As a result of this purchase and the modernisation programme currently under way, within just a few years virtually the entire SKM fleet will consist of either almost-new trains or thoroughly modernised vehicles.

“Not including the purchases made in 2022, the city will spend almost one billion zlotys on the modernisation of SKM trains alone, with support from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The exact amount is PLN 815 million gross. Investing in the fleet means investing in reliable public transport, safety and passengers’ everyday comfort,” says Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.

During the first stage of the fleet modernisation programme, SKM also contracted PTS, this time in a consortium with Poznań-based Modertrans, to carry out similarly extensive work on 13 “Elf” trains, or 27WE units. Six modernised “Elf” trains are already operating in the Warsaw metropolitan area. The seventh will return to the capital after its overhaul in September, while the last one will be delivered by July 2027 at the latest.

SKM in numbers

SKM is Poland’s only municipally owned rail operator. Under a contract valid until 2039, it operates 286 services a day on behalf of Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, covering more than 200 km of railway lines and serving 60 stops in Warsaw and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Last year, 23.8 million passengers travelled with SKM. This year’s figure may be even higher: by the end of August, 20 million passengers had already travelled on SKM trains.