In April, PKP Intercity will lease one of each of the two types of locomotives: the Skoda 109E and the Siemens VECTRON DC. They will operate Express and Express InterCity category trains as well as international connections. The company does not rule out extending the agreement.
The locomotives will be provided to PKP Intercity by the manufacturers – Skoda and Siemens. The agreements were signed on a barter basis, i.e., without financial consideration. Operating the locomotives by the carrier in regular passenger service will allow the manufacturers, who have obtained temporary certificates for them, to obtain permanent certificates. To receive such a document, a locomotive of a given type must undergo operational trials, i.e., travel a set number of kilometers in passenger and freight train service. This cooperation with PKP Intercity will provide them with exactly this opportunity.
– We are finalizing the agreements with the manufacturers and arranging the locomotive schedule. Next, we will conduct crew training, and then we will be able to take them out on the routes. Given that these are new locomotives and they can reach high speeds, we will use them to operate those lines where their technical capabilities can be fully utilized – says Janusz Malinowski, CEO of PKP Intercity. Since April 1st, the Vectron has been hauling the Ex Małopolska and TLK Brzechwa trains on the Warsaw – Krakow – Warsaw route.
The Vectron locomotive is produced in several versions. In Poland, a version with a 3,000 V DC power supply and a maximum speed of 160 km/h will be tested. For this class of locomotive, the Vectron is characterized by a low curb weight, and thus a low axle load of approximately 20 tons. This enables higher speeds and operation on lower-class railway lines. The locomotive’s tractive effort is 300 kN, with a weight of 87.6 t and a power output of 5,200 kW.
The Skoda locomotive that will haul PKP Intercity trains is a multi-system version with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. The manufacturer, Skoda, offers this type of locomotive in several versions, but the 109E model is designed for high-speed passenger trains. The locomotive can be powered by 3 kV DC, 25 kV / 50 Hz AC, and 15 kV / 16.7 Hz AC, and its tractive effort is 275 kN, with a weight of 87.6 t and a power output of 6,400 kW.
The wheel arrangement of both locomotives is “Bo Bo“, meaning they are four-axle with traction motors on all axles. Both locomotives are also equipped with the vigilance and train radio communication systems required in Poland.
– If the tests are successful and both parties are satisfied with them, we do not rule out the possibility of extending the agreements. However, it is difficult to say at this stage under what conditions this cooperation could be carried out. Everything depends on how the locomotives perform in Polish conditions – notes Janusz Malinowski.