PKP Intercity announced plans to modernise 400 carriages, 60 locomotives, as well as renovate and build a new service depot to upkeep its fleet for PLN 1.8 billion.
“From the beginning of the year, the number of passengers has increased and we would like to continue this trend, since we believe that PKP Intercity has the potential,” said PKP board member Piotr Ciżkowicz .
The modernisation requires complete upgrade of nearly 400 old-style carriages to contemporary compartmental, non-compartmental, restaurant, and so-called Combi carriages, which are supposed to fit the needs of passengers travelling in groups.
The new carriages will start travelling on national and international lines, for example Berlin-Poznań-Warsaw, in 2018. Sixty locomotives will receive heightened safety features, cost effective features lowering maintenance costs, and an increase in speeds from 125 km/h to 160 km/h.
PKP Intercity plans to spend PLN one billion of its own money as well as EU funding for the project. (ua/rg/rk)
