PKP Intercity orders 42 new double-deck trains

PKP Intercity has awarded its largest contract ever for the purchase of 42 double-deck electric multiple units, including 30 years of maintenance. The deal with Alstom is worth PLN 8.47 billion gross, with an option for 30 additional trains. The first units are expected to enter service in about three and a half years.

What does the contract cover?

PKP Intercity ordered 42 Coradia Max trains, designed for speeds of up to 200 km/h. Each unit will seat more than 480 passengers, and in double formation over 1,100. The trains will be built at Alstom’s facilities in Chorzów and Nadarzyn. The contract also includes long-term technical maintenance.

Why was Alstom chosen?

The other bidder, Stadler Polska, offered a higher total price and more expensive maintenance. Alstom’s lower lifecycle cost made the difference.

Where will the new trains run?

The double-deck sets will serve Poland’s busiest routes, including Warsaw to Gdańsk, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Białystok and Terespol. They will also be certified for operation in the Czech Republic and are planned to run towards the future Central Transport Hub (CPK).

Timeline and expansion option

The first two trains will be delivered within 44 months, the next 40 within 77 months, and the optional 30 within 89 months of signing. PKP Intercity’s management says the option will likely be used due to rising passenger demand.

Broader impact on the market

This is the largest PKP Intercity procurement of long-distance rolling stock to date. Previous tenders for push-pull trains were cancelled due to high bids. The new trains are expected to boost capacity, comfort, and help the company handle growing passenger numbers — from 88 million in 2024 to up to 110 million by 2030.