POLAND: The first of 37 trainsets being built for the Warszawa metro by Škoda Transportation was delivered to the capital on April 25, ahead of dynamic testing and certification which is expected to be completed within three months.
Part-funded by the EU, the contract awarded in June 2018 covers the supply of 37 six-car trains, spare parts, a simulator, an extended guarantee and staff training. There are options for eight more sets, which would take the total value of the package to almost KC8bn.
Branded as Varsovia, the aluminium-bodied trains are formed of two Type 21Mt driving motor cars, two Type 22Mt powered intermediate cars and two unpowered trailers of Type 23t. The six-car sets are 118·2 m long, with a design capacity for 1 500 passengers, including spaces for wheelchair users, prams and bicycles. Taking power from a third rail at 750 V DC, the trains have a maximum speed of 90 km/h.
According to Metro Warszawskie, 22 sets are intended to replace the original Metrowagonmash trains on Line M1, which date from the mid-1990s. The other 15 will augment the M2 fleet and facilitate more intensive services at 2½ min headways. The optional eight would be ordered to further improve frequencies to a 2 min headway if necessary.
