PKP Intercity Tests Newag Impuls 3 Hybrid in Poland

ŻMIGRÓD, Poland – PKP Intercity commenced testing of its first-ever hybrid multiple unit, the Newag-built Impuls 3, at the Railway Institute’s test circuit 55 km north of Wrocław. The trials, running from June to November 2026, precede a December 2026 application for service authorisation. The EUR 790 million (PLN 3.36 billion) contract for 35 units, signed in July 2024, represents one of the largest rolling stock investments in the Polish operator’s history.

What Are the Technical Specifications?

The Impuls 3 hybrid multiple unit operates at a maximum speed of 160 km/h under electric traction and 120 km/h in diesel mode, powered by four diesel engines meeting European Stage V emissions standards.

Each unit provides a range exceeding 920 km on a single fuel tank, eliminating the need for en-route refuelling on most Polish intercity corridors. The trains seat 179 passengers — 156 in second class and 21 in first class — with two dedicated spaces for passengers with reduced mobility. Onboard amenities include air conditioning, power sockets, USB ports, passenger information systems, bicycle storage, a family zone, vending machines, and designated quiet compartments. Operational safety is managed by the European Train Control System (ETCS). Maintenance services for the fleet are included in the contract for a ten-year period, with PKP Intercity personnel directly involved in servicing operations.

Key Technical Data

Where Does This Technology Stand in the Market?

The Newag Impuls 3 enters a European hybrid multiple-unit segment that has expanded sharply since 2020. Stadler’s FLIRT BMU (Bi-Mode Unit), already deployed in the UK and Italy, offers 160 km/h electric and 140 km/h diesel operation with a typical seating capacity of 150–180 depending on configuration (Source: Stadler, 2025). Siemens Mobility’s Mireo Plus H, ordered by multiple German regional operators, delivers 160 km/h in electric mode and a battery-hybrid range of approximately 120 km, though diesel variants with longer range are available (Source: Siemens Mobility, 2025). The Impuls 3’s 920+ km diesel range substantially exceeds the Mireo Plus B’s battery-only figures and aligns more closely with FLIRT BMU fuel-tank configurations. A separate early batch of Impuls hybrid units for regional services is reported to enter service in 2025, predating the PKP Intercity fleet by two years and indicating Newag has already validated core hybrid architecture in commercial operations ahead of the intercity variant’s certification. The per-unit cost of approximately EUR 22.6 million includes a decade of maintenance, a bundled structure that complicates direct pricing comparisons with other European procurements where maintenance is tendered separately. The contract’s total value of EUR 790 million places it among the top five Polish rolling stock deals since 2020, behind only the PKP Intercity Stadler FLIRT and Pesa Dart procurements.

Editor’s Analysis

PKP Intercity’s hybrid strategy targets a specific structural gap in Poland’s railway network — approximately 38% of the country’s rail lines remain non-electrified, disproportionately affecting secondary cities like Łomża that lost direct intercity connections decades ago. The choice of bi-mode rather than battery-electric technology reflects the 920 km range requirement, which exceeds what current battery systems can reliably deliver for long-distance intercity services without wayside charging infrastructure. Poland’s Railway Transport Office (UTK) data shows that restoring services to non-electrified corridors has been a stated operator priority since 2023, and the Impuls 3 fleet is the first large-scale procurement designed specifically to close these connectivity gaps without waiting for catenary extensions. The 2027–2029 delivery window aligns with the EU’s 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy funding cycle, though the operator has not publicly disclosed what proportion of the EUR 790 million cost is covered by EU instruments.

FAQ

Q: When will PKP Intercity’s new hybrid trains enter regular passenger service?
A: The first Impuls 3 units are scheduled to begin commercial operations from June 2027, starting with the Łomża–Warsaw corridor. Deliveries of all 35 units will continue through the end of the second quarter of 2029.

Q: What is the total cost per train in the Newag contract?
A: The 35-unit contract is valued at EUR 790 million, equating to approximately EUR 22.6 million per unit. This figure bundles ten years of maintenance services with PKP Intercity personnel involvement, making direct unit-cost comparisons with non-maintenance-inclusive tenders imprecise.

Q: Which Polish cities will benefit from the hybrid train rollout?
A: Only the Łomża–Warsaw route has been officially confirmed by CEO Janusz Malinowski as of June 2026. PKP Intercity has stated the programme aims to expand long-distance services to towns and regions without fully electrified railways, but a complete route map has not been publicly disclosed.