Miechów 2025-05-21
EZT Newag ED78-029.
The NEWAG ED78-029 train is an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), which consists of four cars. Serial number 31WE-049; EVN wagon numbers: 94 51 2 141 100-9 (PL-PREG A), EVN: 94 51 2 141 101-7 (PL-PREG B), EVN: 94 51 2 141 102-5 (PL-PREG C), EVN: 94 51 2 141 103-3 (PL-PREG D). Year of production 2018. The train was built for the carrier PolRegio, Świętokrzyskie Branch based in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The purchase was made by the Marshal’s Office of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. On October 19, 2018, the train was officially presented at the Kielce station. It was the first of two new NEWAG Impuls trains for the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship.
The NEWAG ED78-029 train was painted light gray (white), with gray and orange accents. The doors are orange. Inside, the seats are upholstered in gray with orange accents; headrests and armrests.
The EZT ED78 (EN78) bearing the factory designation 31WE was one of the first low-floor trains built by engineers from NEWAG, from the city of Nowy Sącz. This vehicle became the basis for the entire family of trains under the name Impuls. The main feature of the vehicles is the low floor and modern equipment; air conditioning, closed-system toilets, a modern passenger information system and comfortable seats. The vehicle design was created in 2011, and at the beginning of 2012, construction of the first prototype began. The first 4-car EZT was designated type 31WE, it was built at the end of 2012.
During tests on the Central Railway Main Line, on the night of 18/19 February 2013, it set a speed record for vehicles designed and manufactured entirely in Poland, at 211.6 km/h. This record was broken two years later, this time by the 5-car EZT Impuls 45WE, on the night of 28/29 August 2015, also on the Central Railway Main Line, it reached a speed of 225.2 km/h.
The 4-car Impuls has a lowered floor, a single-space interior and is used for regional traffic, for distances of about 100 km. The EZT is 74.40 m long. The train weight is about 135,000 kg, depending on the equipment version. Axle arrangement: Bo’2’2’2’Bo’. The total length of the train is 74.40 m. The trains are adapted to operate at temperatures from -25 degrees Celsius to +40 degrees Celsius. The trains are offered in two power versions: Version 1 – 2,000 kW (4 engines of 500 kW, version ED78-029), Version 2 – 1,600 kW (4 engines of 400 kW). The engines are three-phase asynchronous. In the train, the first and last bogies are driving. An individual drive inverter for each driving bogie, using IGBT technology, was used. Each bogie has two electric motors. The remaining three bogies, inter-carriage bogies, are of the Jacobs type. The train has two half-wave current collectors, which are mounted on the roof of the second and third bogies near the inter-carriage connection. The train fronts are aerodynamic and their external covering is made of composites. The trains are certified for 160 km/h, although the possibility of running at 200 km/h is possible. Simply, carriers do not order such trains.
The ED78-029 train has a toilet, in a closed system, adapted for the needs of disabled people. Each carriage has one pair of automatic doors, activated by a button to open and close automatically. Passengers have access to 230 V electrical sockets and USB. There is access to wireless WiFi on the train. Some trains have ticket machines and bicycle racks installed.
Deliveries of trains.
In November 2013, NEWAG signed a contract with the Western Purchasing Group for the delivery of 14 31WE trains, which were marked with the ED78 series. In the period 2013 – 2015, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship received 12 units of this type, while the Lubuskie Voivodeship received two trains. In 2015, both voivodeships ordered and received one more train each. In the period 2017-2018, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship received an additional 9 trains, while the Wielkopolska Voivodeship received 3 trains. In March 2015, NEWAG signed a contract with the Fast Urban Railway in the Tri-City for the delivery of two 4-car EZT 31WE trains. These vehicles were delivered in the spring of 2016. At the turn of 2016 and 2017, an order was completed for the Małopolska Voivodeship, covering 8 EZT type 31WE trains and 5 EZT type 45WE trains. These trains were marked with the EN78 and EN79 series, respectively. They were directed primarily to service trains on the Kraków Główny – Tarnów route and selected connections to the cities of Nowy Sącz and Krynica. The EZTs also run on the Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia – Kraków Główny – Kraków Lotnisko route. It must be noted that there is some confusion in the marking of individual EZT 31WE and ED78, which was additionally deepened by the marking adopted in the Małopolska Province, of these trains with the EN78 series. Vehicles that have only the factory type marking 31WE are numbered in the order of leaving production. Units marked with the railway series ED78 or EN78, however, have their own numbers, so there are vehicles: 31WE – 001, ED78 – 001 and EN78 – 001 at the same time and they are not the same EZT. As a result of this double marking, in the numbering of vehicles marked with the 31WE type there are free numbers, and others are repeated.
The next two trains with the numbers ED78-029 and -030 were delivered for the Świętokrzyskie Province at the end of 2018. The vehicles were directed to service the route Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski – Skarżysko Kamienna – Kielce – Kraków Główny.
Trains were built with the markings; 31WE, EN78, ED78. These trains were built in the period 2013-2018. 50 EZTs were built. Production of EZTs marked EN78A (Impuls 2) was started, which have been built since 2020 and 9 trains have been built so far. In September 2021, for the Małopolska Province, EZT Impuls 2, marked with the EN78A series, was put into service. The presentation of the first two trains took place on September 29, 2021, in Oświęcim. The Małopolska Province received 9 trains of this type. These trains have 200 seats. A characteristic feature is the additional door leading to the driver’s cabin. Trains have No. EN78A-001, -002, -003, -004, -005, -006, -007, -008, -009.
T-T data:
Railway designation: 31WE, ED78, EN78, EN78A. Axle arrangement Bo’ 2’2’2′ Bo’. Track gauge 1435 mm. Total length 74.40 m (other data 76.60 m). Width 2.84 m. Height 4.1 m. Wheel diameter 0.84 m. Own weight 135,000 kg (depending on the version). Engine power 4 x 400 kW or 4 x 500 kW. Engine type TMF50-29-4 TSA, asynchronous. When starting, acceleration 1 m/s2. Speed 160 km/h. Number of seats 181 + 21 (folding) – version of the train with 6 pairs of doors. Number of seats 196 + 2 (folding) – version with 4 pairs of doors. Number of standing places up to 256 passengers.
EZT Newag Impuls series EN63A = 36WEa.
In October 2014, Koleje Świętokrzyskie received the first Newag “Impuls” train type EN63A = 36WEa. The train is a 3-car train. By the end of 2014, a total of 3 units were delivered. In 2015, another 3 units were delivered.
As in the case of Pesa “Elf” trains, each car was equipped with only one pair of doors. This solution increases the number of seats in the car, but extends the time it takes passengers to occupy seats in the train. In addition, the train has all the solutions and facilities used in Newag “Impuls” trains.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman