Wedoany.com Report-Dec.31, On December 29, Polish intercity rail operator PKP Intercity (PKP IC) initiated its first-ever tender for the procurement of high-speed trains capable of exceeding 300 km/h. The company plans to purchase 20 electric multiple units with a top speed of 320 km/h, with an option for up to 35 additional units. The tender also includes a 30-year maintenance service and the construction of a dedicated maintenance facility in Warsaw. Bids for the high-speed trains must be submitted by April 29, 2026, with competitive dialogue scheduled from August to November of the same year. The contract award is expected to be finalized in 2027. The evaluation criteria will be based on price and cost-effectiveness factors, with specific weightings to be clarified after the competitive dialogue phase is completed.

The tender documents specify a phased delivery schedule: the first two high-speed trains must be delivered within 60 months of contract signing, with all 20 units from the base order to be delivered within 84 months. If PKP Intercity exercises all its options for additional trains, the delivery deadline for the final unit could be extended to 110 months after contract signing. Maintenance services for each train will last for 30 years, starting from the date of delivery and acceptance. The total contract duration is 470 months from the signing date.

Technical Requirements: Bidders must have delivered at least five dual-system electric multiple units with a maximum speed of no less than 250 km/h within the past seven years. These products must hold TSI (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) certification from at least one EU member state, or have national authorization for placing into service from a country within the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the UK. The high-speed train equipment must comply with European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) standards and must be equipped with ETCS Level 2 train control systems to ensure interoperability with the European rail network.

Financial Requirements: High-speed train bidders must demonstrate access to approximately €46.5 million in available funds or credit lines, possess professional liability insurance of around €9.3 million, and showcase relevant experience in long-term maintenance services and railway facility construction. The value of such relevant projects (long-term maintenance and railway infrastructure) must exceed €11.6 million. During the quotation phase, shortlisted bidders must also provide a bid bond of approximately €26.7 million.

As the high-speed train tender progresses, Poland is simultaneously refining its high-speed network planning to align vehicle procurement with future operations. According to the plan, the initial 20 trains will be deployed primarily on the new high-speed corridor based on the "Y-shaped line" (designed for speeds of at least 320 km/h). They will support services on the Warsaw-Łódź-Wrocław route (hourly frequency) and cross-regional lines via Poznań to Szczecin and Berlin (both with a frequency of every two hours). Once the optional 35 additional high-speed trains are in place, the frequency on the Szczecin and Berlin routes is expected to increase to hourly service, while the Wrocław route could be enhanced to a 30-minute frequency. Planners are also studying the possibility of extending some services to Prague and Leipzig, and evaluating the future introduction of high-speed trains on the planned Rail Line No. 5 to further expand network coverage and improve connectivity between Warsaw and the Tri-City area.