More news on this day
PKP Intercity has begun homologation tests of its first hybrid multiple unit, marking a major step in the Polish operator’s plan to extend InterCity services onto long‑distance routes that are only partially electrified.
Get the latest news straight to your inbox!
Hybrid Impuls 3 enters track testing at Żmigród
According to published coverage from Polish railway industry outlets, the first Newag Impuls 3 hybrid multiple unit for PKP Intercity has moved from the factory floor to the national Railway Institute’s test circuit in Żmigród, south west of Wrocław. The programme, launched in mid June 2026, is intended to verify the train’s performance ahead of its introduction into regular InterCity services.
Reports indicate that the test campaign will run from June to November 2026, with the train undertaking a mix of high speed runs, braking trials and systems checks on the 7 km elliptical track. The loop includes curved sections with radii between 600 and 900 m and a straight of just over 1.3 km, allowing trials at speeds of up to 160 km/h, the planned maximum under electric power.
After the dynamic tests are completed, PKP Intercity is expected to submit documentation to Poland’s Office of Rail Transport in December 2026, seeking authorisation for passenger service. If approvals proceed as planned, the first hybrid trains are scheduled to enter commercial operation in the first half of 2027.
Dual power concept tailored to mixed‑traffic corridors
The new hybrid units are designed to operate under overhead electric wires and on non electrified stretches using onboard diesel engines. Publicly available technical data shows that under 3 kV DC catenary the Impuls 3 sets are engineered for 160 km/h running, while in diesel mode the top speed will be 120 km/h.
The dual power configuration is intended to remove the need for locomotive changes or transfers to connecting services at the end of electrified sections. Instead, trains will continue seamlessly onto diesel only branches, reducing travel times and simplifying timetables on routes that combine upgraded main lines with regional infrastructure still awaiting electrification.
Information released earlier this year by Newag and PKP Intercity points to four Stage V compliant diesel power packs, giving a range of around 900 km in combustion mode. The trains are also equipped with the European Train Control System, allowing them to work over lines fitted with modern digital train protection as Poland continues to deploy ETCS on core corridors.
Order for 35 trainsets anchors fleet renewal drive
PKP Intercity signed the contract for 35 hybrid multiple units with Newag in 2024 as part of a broader rolling stock expansion programme. Sector reports value the agreement at close to 3.4 billion złoty, including maintenance, making it one of the largest investments in self propelled long distance trains in the company’s recent history.
The hybrid fleet will sit alongside other new vehicles on order, including double deck push pull sets and additional coaches, as the operator pursues targets for capacity growth through the second half of the decade. Publicly available planning documents indicate that PKP Intercity aims to carry a record number of passengers in 2026 and beyond, underpinned by higher frequencies and more modern trains on key routes.
The Impuls 3 order is scheduled to be delivered in stages through to 2029, with the first units due to enter service in 2027. As new trains arrive, older locomotive hauled formations on selected interregional routes are expected to be phased out or cascaded to other services.
Planned routes link Warsaw with Lomza, Hajnówka and Zamość
According to coverage in Polish and European rail media, PKP Intercity intends to deploy the hybrids initially on medium to long distance services where electrification is discontinuous. Among the routes highlighted are Warsaw to Łomża in the north east, Hajnówka near the border with Belarus, and Zamość in the south east.
In the case of Łomża, PKP Intercity has indicated that the hybrid fleet will enable the restoration of direct InterCity services to the capital from June 2027 after a long absence. The trains would use electrified main lines for the core of the journey before switching to diesel power on the final, unelectrified approaches to the regional city.
Similar operating patterns are envisaged on other corridors, where the ability to work beyond the wire without changing trains is seen as a way to make long distance rail more attractive compared with car or coach. The hybrids are being positioned as a tool to improve national connectivity for medium sized cities that currently lack through trains to Warsaw or other major hubs.
Passenger comfort and environmental goals in focus
While detailed interior layouts have not been widely disclosed, available renderings and descriptions suggest that the hybrid units are being configured to InterCity standards, with air conditioned open saloons, first and second class areas, power sockets, Wi Fi and dedicated spaces for passengers with reduced mobility. Low floor entrance sections are expected to aid step free boarding at modernised platforms.
Industry commentary frames the hybrid project as part of Poland’s broader effort to decarbonise transport while still serving regions where electrification will take time to complete. By maximising electric operation on trunk lines and relying on modern, emissions compliant engines where wires are absent, the trains are intended to reduce fuel consumption and noise compared with conventional diesel locomotives on the same routes.
The start of tests at Żmigród signals that PKP Intercity’s strategy of combining infrastructure upgrades with new rolling stock is moving from planning into implementation. For passengers in cities like Łomża, Hajnówka and Zamość, the progress of the hybrid programme over the next 18 months will help determine how quickly new direct InterCity connections become a reality.