CARGOUNIT Leases Vectron Locomotives to Support New Baltic Express Connection

Wedoany.com Report-Dec 17, The service will link Gdańsk and Prague with four daily train pairs starting in mid-December 2024.

CARGOUNIT has leased 5 Vectron locomotives to PKP Intercity for the launch of the Baltic Express, a new rail connection operated in cooperation with České dráhy. The service will begin operations as part of the new timetable on December 15 2024, with tickets already available for purchase.

This arrangement follows a framework agreement signed in February 2024 between CARGOUNIT and Siemens Mobility for the delivery of up to 100 Vectron locomotives. CARGOUNIT has committed to an initial order of 30 locomotives.

The Baltic Express route is designed to offer direct and efficient rail connections between the Czech Republic and Poland’s Tricity region on the Baltic Sea. The trains will operate with stops in major cities, including Wrocław, Poznań, and Bydgoszcz, with travel times between Prague and Wrocław estimated at under four hours.

On the Czech section of the route, the trains will include four carriages, one of which will provide first-class seating. Additional carriages, including a dining car, will be added in Wrocław under PKP Intercity’s operation. Passengers will have access to onboard Wi-Fi, power outlets for charging electronic devices, and facilities for wheelchair users and bicycle transport.

The new service represents an expansion of international rail connections, aiming to provide a convenient and environmentally friendly alternative for travelers heading to and from the Baltic coast, which becomes increasingly attractive mainly in summer months, as climate change increases the attractivity of Baltic coast as summer holiday destination.