High-speed train connects Polish cities
Published: Mon, 2014-12-29 17:00Poland’s major cities have been linked by the “first train in Central Europe to reach 200 km/h (124 mph)” since 14th December. Built by Alstom, the Pendolino operates between Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Wroclaw, and the ports of Gdansk and Gdynia on the Baltic Sea.
With 20 000 kilometers of track, the Polish rail network is the third largest in Europe, and a appropriate purchaser for high speeds, as it is electrified at 65%. A letter of intent was drafted to this effect in 1990 but there was no follow up until now.
Alstom, which won the call for tender launched in 2010, has delivered 20 high-speed Pendolino trains to PKP Intercity, the Polish long-distance rail operator. The €665m (£521m) contract includes not only these trains but also the construction of a maintenance center and its operation over the next 17 years.
Source: PKP