PKP Intercity has announced a procurement procedure for the purchase of 20 electric multiple units designed for operation at speeds of up to 320 km/h. The tender represents the first procurement in Poland for high-speed passenger trains in this speed category.
The procedure has been launched as a competitive dialogue, covering the supply of the trains, as well as their long-term maintenance and the design and construction of a dedicated technical maintenance facility. The contract also includes an option for an additional 35 trainsets.
One of the eligibility requirements in the tender is documented experience in delivering rolling stock with a maximum speed of at least 250 km/h.
Ahead of the formal announcement, PKP Intercity conducted a market intelligence exercise involving discussions with nine rolling stock manufacturers, including companies based in Poland. According to the operator, these manufacturers indicated their intention to participate in the tender through consortia that include partners with the necessary high-speed experience.
The operator has set a longer-than-usual timetable for the procedure, citing the technical complexity of the project and the expected level of market interest. Applications to participate must be submitted by the end of April 2026. The dialogue phase with shortlisted bidders will then follow and is planned to run longer than in previous rolling stock tenders. Final bids are scheduled for submission in May 2027, with contract award expected in August 2027.
Each train is planned to be approximately 200 metres in length and capable of operation at 320 km/h. The specification includes two passenger classes, a bar or restaurant area, facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, and dedicated spaces for families travelling with children. During the dialogue phase, bidders will also be invited to propose additional technical and functional solutions. The trains are to be approved for operation in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.
The initial batch of 20 trainsets is intended primarily for services using the planned ‘Y’ high-speed line, which is designed for operation at speeds of at least 320 km/h. Under current plans, the first phase of services would include:
- Warsaw – Łódź – Wrocław, operating hourly
- Warsaw – Łódź – Poznań – Szczecin, operating every two hours
- Warsaw – Łódź – Poznań – Berlin, operating every two hours
If the optional order for a further 35 trains is exercised, service frequencies are expected to increase. This would allow for hourly operation on the Warsaw–Łódź–Poznań–Szczecin and Warsaw–Łódź–Poznań–Berlin routes, and half-hourly services between Warsaw, Łódź and Wrocław.
PKP Intercity is also assessing the potential extension of selected services to additional international destinations, including Prague and Leipzig, on either two-hour or four-hour cycles. In the longer term, the operator is considering the use of high-speed rolling stock on the planned new railway line No. 5 linking Warsaw with Płock, Grudziądz, Gdańsk and Gdynia, which could provide faster connections between the capital and the Tricity using new infrastructure.
