Starting January 9, more PesaDARTs will hit the tracks. The modern trainsets will appear on routes to Katowice, Bielsko-Biała, Wisła, and Warsaw. Further trains will also be deployed to Białystok and Lublin. PKP Intercity secured over 545 million in EU funding for the purchase of 20 modern trainsets.
Currently, 8 PesaDART trains have undergone a rigorous acceptance process. Since December 29, the first 2 units have been operating in PKP Intercity colors, serving connections to Białystok (IC Mickiewicz) and Lublin (IC Bystrzyca).
PKP Intercity is preparing additional trains to serve InterCity category connections. From January 9, 2016, passengers will be able to travel on PesaDART trainsets to destinations including Wisła, Warsaw, Białystok, Piotrków Trybunalski, Częstochowa, Katowice, and Bielsko-Biała. On January 10, a modern trainset will take over the direct service on the Bielsko-Biała – Białystok route. And starting January 11, Darts will appear on the Warsaw – Katowice – Warsaw and Lublin – Katowice – Lublin routes.
In the final week of 2015, the manufacturer of the PesaDART trainsets presented the remaining trains to PKP Intercity, thereby fulfilling the provisions of the December agreement. Despite delays in the execution of the order by Pesa, PKP Intercity secured an EU subsidy of over 545 million PLN for the purchase of new rolling stock. In total, by implementing a rolling stock investment program worth 5.5 billion PLN, PKP Intercity has successfully secured 1.9 billion PLN from the EU Cohesion Fund under the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Program.