THIS MONTH Polish rolling stock builder Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych will complete the last of a batch of 10 Type 305Ad sleeping cars ordered by PKP, the first six of which entered service in June on the Jan Kiepura Brussels - Warszawa service.

Built to <acronym title="International Union of Railways">UIC</acronym> 505-1 clearances, the carriages are designed for domestic and international operation on standard-gauge routes. Accommodation is provided for 28 people, in two A-class and eight 2/1-class compartments. The A-class compartments have two beds which fold to form seats separated by a table, and include a toilet compartment with shower (below right), a wardrobe and DVD player with LCD screen.

The 2/1-class compartments (inset right) are fitted with three beds which can be folded into seats, as well as a wardrobe, washbasin and an illuminated cabinet with a mirror. Two compartments can be linked to give more space for group travel.

All passengers can use headphones to access four channels of music controlled by local volume switches and a central control panel in the staff compartment. Vacuum retention toilets are fitted, one of which is equipped with a baby changing table. The car is fully air-conditioned with 4·5 kW equipment supplied by SAB Wabco, with a 380V two-phase supply. Electric heaters automatically ensuring a constant temperature when the outside temperature is between -30íC and 40íC. Fire detectors and alarms are fitted throughout the car, as well as digital CCTV in the corridors and entry-code controlled motion-detecting intruder alarms in all compartments.

The stainless-steel body and underframe form a fully self-supporting welded structure, with mineral wool thermal and acoustic insulation. Bode power-operated plug doors are fitted, with crew-controlled central locking. The sliding electro-pneumatic end doors meet <acronym title="International Union of Railways">UIC</acronym> fire requirements, and the fluorescent lighting is backed up with 24V DC emergency bulb lamps. The PSM-50W static converter was supplied by Medcom.

The 25Ana/4 two-axle bogies are designed for 200 km/h operation, and each wheelset is equipped with electromagnetic disc brakes from SAB Wabco. There is an 84 kN magnetic track brake and SWKP 20AS anti-slide electronics. SAB Wabco also supplied the SW4CSP distributor valve.

Reader Enquiry Numbers:

Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych, Poland: 121SAB Wabco Polska, Poland: 122Medcom, Poland: 123

TABLE: Type 305Ad in profile

Tare weight tonnes 55

Length over buffers mm 26400

Length over body mm 26100

Height above rail mm 4050

Bogie centres mm 19000

Wheel diameter mm 920

Max speed km/h 200

Number of berths 28