photo: Newag/Newag-iluustration picture
Lublin Central Station, in cooperation with The Management Board of Lublin Voivodeship, welcomed the first fleet of seven Impuls 2 electric multiple units manufactured by Newag and co-financed by the European Union through the Regional Operational Programme for Lubelskie Voivodeship 2014-2020
The contract between Lublin Voivodeship and Newag for the supply of Impuls 2 EMUs EZT 37WE type was signed in December 2019 and included the distribution of 8 units. At first, all vehicles were supposed to be delivered within 24 months from the contract signing, scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. Nevertheless, Newag cut the delivery time and supplied them over to the Voivodeship authorities earlier. The remaining two vehicles will be introduced into passenger transportation by December 2021.
The new Impuls 2 electric multiple units are equipped with modern, economical drive units guaranteeing velocities of up to 160 km/h. The EMUs have a capacity of 105 travelers and provide a special place for bicycles both on adjusted hangers and in a standing position with the possibility of securing them with fitting straps. The new vehicles have been adapted to the needs of people with reduced movement, providing areas for wheelchairs, making it easier for the passengers to travel thanks to the lowered platform and easy-to-access ramps.
The vehicles are going to be leased to Polregio, the local and inter-regional passenger transport operator providing services under a contract with the Lublin Voivodeship. They will be used to serve regional connections, replacing the oldest EN57 series electric multiple units on five rail tracks.
In the case of increased transport needs, it will be possible to link them into sets of up to three cars under the so-called multiple tractions, hence tripling the number of seats.
“Polregio is constantly modernizing the train fleet. We will soon announce a tender for the purchase of several dozen new electric sets, and ultimately our fleet will be supplemented by over 200 new vehicles. Due to many years of shortages, new trains are especially needed in the Lublin region,” said Artur Martyniuk, the CEO of Polregio, the local and interregional passenger transport operator.
“The purchase of these trains following rail infrastructure investment is another step towards improving the communication of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. The implemented investments translate directly into the comfort of travel, which is noticed by passengers using the railways. Rail transport also means better accessibility of towns and the mobility of society, economic development, and better climate,” Jarosław Stawiarski, the Marshal of the Lublin Voivodeship stated.
The new EMUs units are also equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi internet access, audiovisual passenger information system, as well as network and USB sockets for charging electronic devices.