The public transport operator of Krakow, MPK, selected Pesa Bydgoszcz to deliver up to 90 three types of trams with a firm order for 30 new bidirectional light rail vehicles.
Deliveries of the 30 bidirectional trams ordered should begin in 2028 at the latest and are expected to be co-financed by the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment programme (FEnIKS) for which the application has already been submitted.
The three types of trams Pesa will deliver include:
- up to 30 unidirectional trams with a length of 32-34 metres;
- up to 30 bidirectional trams with a length of 32-34 metres
- up to 30 unidirectional trams with a length of 42-45 metres;
The order is of the three tenders MPK issued for the 90 Twist 3.0 low-floor light rail vehicles with a form order for 15 trams of each type of the tenders. In two out of three procedures, Pesa was the single bidder who submitted its offer. PLN 643.7 million (EUR 153.6 million) is the value of the firm order.
The delivery of bidirectional 32-meter was estimated at PLN 691.8 million (EUR 165 million) with a MPK’s budget of PLN 445.8 million (EUR 106.4 million).
For the 42-metre unidirectional trams the bids were submitted by Pesa and Škoda. PLN 570.4 million (EUR 136 million) was the MPK budget for this tender under which Pesa submitted a bid worth PLN 854 million (EUR 203.8 million) while Škoda’s was PLN 895 million (EUR 213.5 million). Pesa won the contract as its bid secured 92 out of 100 points, while Škoda, 77.7 points out the 100.
The selection of the Pesa Bydgoszcz offer by the Krakow carrier and the entire tender procedures concerning the purchase of bidirectional trams must still be subjected to a prior control procedure by the National Public Procurement Office. If this assessment ends positively, a framework agreement for the delivery of up to 90 three types of trams can be signed with a term of four years.
The decision to purchase the remaining 60 trams depends on obtaining external sources of financing, including Poland’s recovery and resilience plan (KPO). The entire order, which includes 90 trams, will require PLN 1.8 billion (EUR 429.5 million).
When deciding on the scope of the order and the type of trams to be purchased, MPK took into account both the expectations of passengers and the intensive development of the track network in Krakow.
MPK plans to withdraw all trams without low floors and air conditioning after the delivery of at least 30 new trams. Thanks to this, after the delivery is complete, the entire MPK tram fleet will consist exclusively of low-floor vehicles equipped with air conditioning and a passenger information system. This is particularly important for people with limited mobility, especially those using wheelchairs and the blind and visually impaired.
These newly ordered trams will be used on city’s network including on the new Azory line, which is in final constructing stage. The new tram line was planned to be constructed more than one decade ago to deliver Azory district access to tramway services. The project covers the construction of a tram line from Krowodrza Górka district to Azory district for which PLN 2 million (EUR 477,250) has been provided through the 2025 budget. The 2.2 km tram line would link two loops, one in Krowodrza and the other one in Azory, where a bus terminal is currently serving the inhabitants. This is why the bidirectional trams will serve the new line.
The new tram line is part of the Krakow Fast Tram which will significantly improve public transport in the city and will deliver new connections and additional capacity. A section of the global project (Górka Narodowa tram connection) has been put in operation, while the line to Mistrzejowice is currently under construction. The tram line connecting Lema / Meissnera intersection with Mistrzejowice tram loop represents the phase IV of the Krakow Fast Tram project and is the first transport project in Poland implemented in a public-private partnership scheme. The project includes the construction of a 4.5 km tram line and a 900-metre tunnel, a tram expansion section that will connect two existing tramlines in Krakow. This will enable 40 additional tram trips per hour, or around 550 more trips per day. The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Bank Pekao and the Polish Development Fund have agreed to co-finance the investment.
In December 2020, Krakow selected the consortium of PPP Solutions Polska and Gülermak for the project implementation.
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