Stadler Delivers 35 Flirt EMUs to Poland Within 24 Months

WARSAW – Stadler Rail has handed over 35 of 75 five-car Flirt electric multiple units (EMUs) to Koleje Mazowieckie in the Mazovia region, achieving delivery within 24 months of the contracts being signed. The operator now anticipates 53 of the regional trains in revenue service by the end of 2025, with the remainder to follow under an 18‑year maintenance and repair package. Two specific batches — 11 “EZT I” units and a further 10 “EZT” units — are backed by a combined PLN 617.4 million (€141 million) in grants from Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO).

What Does This Contract Cover?

The agreement with Stadler Polska covers the design, manufacture, and delivery of 75 Flirt EMUs, all produced at the Siedlce plant, along with an 18‑year full‑service maintenance obligation, a stock of repair packages, and initial training programmes for Koleje Mazowieckie’s staff. Each 98‑metre‑long aluminium train can carry up to 582 people (261 seated, 321 standing) and reaches a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. Passenger amenities include air‑conditioning, Wi‑Fi, USB/electrical outlets, modern passenger information systems, and full PRM accessibility — access ramps, dedicated wheelchair spaces, and audio‑assistance for hearing‑impaired travellers. The trains are being deployed on key regional corridors linking Warsaw with Łowicz, Sochaczew, Małkinia, and Mińsk Mazowiecki, directly boosting capacity, cutting journey times, and improving service reliability.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The KPO‑funded portion of Koleje Mazowieckie’s order — PLN 617.4 million for 21 regional Flirt sets — yields an average unit cost of approximately €6.7 million at current exchange rates. By contrast, PKP Intercity’s 2019 contract for 20 long‑distance Flirt 3 EMUs (capable of 200 km/h, with enhanced seating and catering facilities) was valued at around €297 million, or roughly €14.85 million per unit, reflecting the more complex specification and higher top speed (Source: PKP Intercity, 2019). The 24‑month delivery window for the first 35 Mazovian units is in line with Stadler’s recent Polish regional deliveries: Koleje Dolnośląskie received its first Flirt from an 11‑unit order roughly 22 months after contract award (Source: Koleje Dolnośląskie, 2022). While the exact value of the 18‑year maintenance component is undisclosed, its inclusion mirrors similar life‑cycle contracts seen in recent Polish EMU procurements, strengthening Stadler’s service footprint in Central Europe.

Editor’s Analysis

The speed at which Stadler Polska is turning contracts into revenue‑earning trains underlines the Siedlce plant’s role as a critical supply hub for EU‑backed fleet renewal. With KPO funds accelerating procurement, Koleje Mazowieckie is poised to become one of Europe’s largest single‑operator Flirt fleets, reducing the average age of its rolling stock and cutting per‑passenger energy consumption through lightweight aluminium construction. This programme aligns with a broader Polish trend: the Ministry of Infrastructure plans to eliminate all pre‑2000 passenger stock by 2030, opening a pipeline of regional EMU orders that will continue to test manufacturers’ capacity to deliver quickly and competitively (Source: Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, 2025).

Note: Independent verification of the total contract value for the complete 75‑unit order and the maintenance component was not available at time of publication.

FAQ

Q: How many passengers can a single new Flirt train carry?
A: Each 98‑metre‑long train accommodates up to 582 passengers — 261 seated and 321 standing — plus dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and audio‑assistance zones for hearing‑impaired passengers.

Q: What is the total value of all 75 trains?
A: The overall deal value has not been disclosed, but the two KPO‑funded batches (21 units together) are worth a combined PLN 617.4 million (€141 million).

Q: When will all 75 Flirt EMUs be delivered to Koleje Mazowieckie?
A: An official completion date has not been confirmed. The operator expects 53 units to be in service by the end of 2025; the remaining 22 are to follow under the same framework, though no firm final delivery schedule has been made public.