Polregio Buys Two Used Kolzam Railcars for 146 Million Crowns
Polish regional operator Polregio has agreed to purchase two refurbished Kolzam SA109 diesel railcars for 26.3 million zlotys, equivalent to 146 million Czech crowns, from Serwis Pojazdów Szynowych (SPS). The final price exceeds the initial estimate by nearly two million zlotys. The acquisition follows a single-bid tender in which SPS stood as the only participant. The purchase brings back to Poland two rail vehicles that spent six years under the ownership of Czech carrier GW Train Regio after failing to find a permanent operational fit on regional tracks.
From Polish Rails to Czech Storage and Back
Manufactured by the company Kolzam—with later production taken over by Fablok—the SA109 series consists of only eleven built units. Polregio is acquiring units SA109-005, built in 2005, and SA109-011, built in 2012. These vehicles share a similar size with Czech regional railcars but feature 73 seats and a top approved speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Both units include modern air conditioning and wheelchair-accessible toilets. In 2019, Czech carrier GW Train Regio purchased the railcars in Poland for the price of a bus. Although the company secured regulatory approval and brought them to a functional state in the Czech Republic, the railcars remained mostly parked because they did not align with the carrier’s operating model on regional routes.
Podlaskie Voivodeship Deployment Schedule
The newly acquired railcars will operate on un-electrified railway lines in the Podlaskie Voivodeship in northeastern Poland. Polregio designated the vehicles for specific regional routes connecting Białystok to Hajnówka, Czeremcha, and Łomża. The railcars underwent complete modernization before entering this upcoming service. SPS secured the contract after emerging as the sole bidder in the regional tender, which sets the final delivery price at 26.3 million zlotys.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SA109 Railcar Deal
Why did GW Train Regio sell the railcars back to Poland?
The Czech carrier found that the vehicles did not fit its operational concept for regional routes, leaving them mostly parked in the Czech Republic despite achieving full regulatory approval.
How many Kolzam SA109 railcars were originally built?
Only eleven units of the Kolzam SA109 model were manufactured before production shifted to Fablok.
Which specific routes will use the railcars in Poland?
Polregio assigned the modernized units to un-electrified tracks running from Białystok to Hajnówka, Czeremcha, and Łomża within the Podlaskie Voivodeship.