Kraków 2024-12-28

Passenger wagons of UIC-Y standard. Modernization.

Since the 1990s, the issue of modernizing UIC-Y standard passenger cars has been considered. Initially, modernizations were carried out as part of level P5 repairs. Windows were replaced, electric air heating was installed. Air conditioning systems were installed. Rotary-folding entrance doors were replaced with automatic spring-sliding doors. At the same time, no changes were made to the type designation of the car, but the letter designations of the cars were changed, which currently say more about the car’s equipment and amenities for passengers. It is a practice to mark rebuilt cars with types that have current certificates of admission to traffic, in order to save on the certification process. Simplifications in the letter description of the cars make it easier to classify passenger cars in terms of their basic features. The following years have shown that this system works. What’s more, it allows passengers to choose the optimal car and the optimal place in the selected car. Let us remember that in 2013, PKP InterCity put unused cars up for sale, at a starting price of PLN 450 per ton. 158 passenger cars were put up for sale. One car weighs from 32,500 kg to 45,500 kg. All cars were UIC-Y standard; classes 1 and 2, couchettes and sleeper cars. The cars were standing on sidings at 12 railway stations in Poland. As it turned out, however, their modernization was profitable, because the car bodies were in very good condition. The modernized car cost 25% of the price of a new car purchased in Western Europe.

Companies that specialize in modernizing passenger cars include PESA Bydgoszcz, HCP – FPS in Poznań, ZNTK Mińsk Mazowiecki, NEWAG Nowy Sącz. ZNTK Ostrów Wielkopolski did not survive the political changes.

The travel speed of the wagons was left at 160 km/h. This was due to the lack of locomotives capable of speeds of 200 km/h. At that time, there were no orders for this type of locomotive, because Poland was ruled by; Volksdeutsche, communists and freemasons. The first locomotives with a speed of 200 km/h appeared on Polish tracks during the rule of the United Right, in 2023; NEWAG EU-200 locomotive.

Changes in the modernized wagons.

The cars had their seats replaced with more ergonomic ones, often with adjustable backrests, better upholstery and space for USB and 230 V sockets. Installation of visual and audio information systems in the form of LED or LCD screens. Installation of new car monitoring systems in the form of CCTV. Thermal and acoustic insulation was replaced for better passenger comfort. The car structure was reinforced to be able to reach higher speeds of 160 km/h – 200 km/h.

Initially, rectangular windows with 90-degree corners were glued in. Later, windows with rounded corners appeared. For cars with a speed of 200 km/h, the windows are glued in from the inside. Due to the use of air conditioning, most of the windows do not open. A few windows with a tiltable upper part were left.

The new sliding doors were initially painted gray, but then the UIC standard was introduced and they were given a dark blue (navy blue) color. Initially, there were no displays with information about the train route installed in the doors. Then, one display was installed on each side, and currently, displays are installed on each entrance door. As a result of the modernization and installation of new entrance doors, the layout of the entrance stairs and vestibule has changed. The floor has been lined with stainless steel sheet metal with a grooved, anti-slip surface. The entrance is well lit. The layout of the handrails and entrance handles has changed. In some carriages, an additional folding step has been installed, which allows entry from very low platforms.

The bodies were changed. We remember that the passenger cars manufactured in HCP had a rolled-up lower edge. Currently, all cars have a straight edge. This is due to the installation of many components under the car frame and additionally covered with aerodynamic covers, which are an extension of the side walls of the body. The roofs were left smooth, with a sheet thickness of 2 mm or grooved, with a thickness of 1 mm. The vents and their arrangement on the roof were changed. The lights at the end of the train are made in LED technology with the possibility of displaying red and white light. The number of windows in the car frame was changed, depending on the needs.

Due to the installation of toilets in a closed system, the construction of this part of the car had to be changed. The old walls were completely dismantled and the floor was cut out. Most of the equipment was installed under the frame. The sewage tank was placed under the frame in the area of ​​the third window, right behind the rolling bogie. The drain pipe is visible between the bogie and the cover of the chassis equipment.

It is worth noting that this was the time when protection of painted surfaces against vandals began to be used. These are special coatings that, when sprayed by vandals, can be relatively easily removed using pressure washers.

In some wagons, the 4ANc type rolling bogies were left. However, the rolling bogies were modernized to improve ride comfort and reduce noise. The brakes and train control systems were modernized.

New wagons.

Initially, individual wagons were modernized, more for testing purposes than for normal use. The first passenger wagon modernization program was the SPOT program. The wagons of type 111Aw were modernized, which after modernization were designated type 111A-2.

Passenger car 111A-20, B9nopuz, is a non-compartment car. Half of the seats are forward facing, there are tables halfway along the compartment, and the other half of the seats are rear facing. The compartment has suitcase racks and shelves above the windows for hand luggage. The doors to the compartment are glass and automatically opened with a button.

In 2012, the InterCity company announced a tender for the modernization of 68 cars to serve the Przemyśl-Kraków-Wrocław-Szczecin route. The modernization was carried out on cars of type 140A, 141A. Initially, 20 cars of type 141A were modernized under the contract. The cars were marked as type 141A-20. The cars were assigned to MD Wrocław. The carriage has 10 six-person compartments. The compartment is equipped with comfortable, modern seats, air conditioning and forced air heating. Control is via a touch panel inside the compartment. The carriage lighting is LED. Small LED lamps have been installed in the compartments. 230 V electrical sockets have also been installed in the compartment. Closed toilets have been installed. New automatic entrance doors have been installed in the rebound-sliding system, which are single-leaf, tight and thermally insulated. Double-leaf front doors with a pneumatic drive have been installed from the very beginning.

T-T data of type 141A-20 cars. Total length 24.50 m. Service weight 38,000 kg. Maximum speed 160 km/h. Number of seats 60. 4ANc type bogies.

In 2013, the IntrCity carrier signed a contract for the modernization of 30 cars with PESA. Type 140A cars, which were manufactured in the period 1990-1991, were selected for modernization. These cars were modernized to type 141A-30. This time, electronic displays were installed on each entrance door. The first cars were assigned to MD Kraków, and the next to MD Szczecin. Initially, these cars were directed to connections on the Przemyśl-Szczecin route. Then, the following were introduced to the trains: IC Mieszko, IC Heweliusz, TLK Sukiennice, TLK Cegielski.

New 111Arow type cars were created. The designation “row” is an abbreviation of the name bicycle. The first cars were handed over to the user in 2005. There are 6 bicycle racks in the car, the design of which is standardized. Bicycles are placed in a vertical position, where the front wheel is up. The first batch of 111Arow type cars has a rolled-up lower edge of the body and no aerodynamic covers. The windows in the car are rectangular, with sharp corners that are glued in. PKP InterCity had a significant surplus of 110Ac type couchettes, which it finally decided to rebuild into non-compartment 111Arow type cars. In these cars, one toilet and about 2 m of the passenger section were abandoned to accommodate more bicycles. In a single-space compartment there are 66 seats (armchairs) for passengers. In other modernizations there are 72 seats, with a smaller number of bicycles taken. The 111Arow type carriages turned out to be a good idea and in the following years the modernization of another 30 carriages was ordered. This time, the type 111A, class 2, compartment carriages were selected for reconstruction. Then 16 type 111A carriages were rebuilt to type 111Arow.

There are variations; B7nopuvz, B8nopuvz, B9nopuvz. The carriages differ in the number of seats, the arrangement of seats, the number of bicycle racks. Newer carriages received adjustable seats. The first carriages of the 111Arow type had swing-folding doors, i.e. of the old type.

New cars of the 111Ainw type were created. The term “inw” means invalid, i.e. it is a car designed for people in wheelchairs. There are 2-4 seats in the cars for passengers in wheelchairs. The seats are equipped with seat belts and a button to call the service (conductor team), if necessary. The cars were very well received by passengers, especially the disabled, for whom appropriate space and a comfortable, spacious toilet were created.

Passenger car 111Ainw, B7bnopuz; it is a non-compartment car adapted to transport people in wheelchairs. There are two places for wheelchairs. Seat arrangement 2+2. The seat by one wall is positioned forward, and by the other wall backward. The car has a suitcase stand and a shelf above the windows for hand luggage. The doors to the compartment are glass and automatic, activated by a button. There is a ramp that must be folded out manually. This is done by the conductor team. The toilet is very spacious, and the toilet also has an additional baby changing table.

There was a modernization of cars from the 111A family to the post-modernization type 111Alux. As part of the program, 24 cars were modernized.

Passenger car type 111A-30 COMBO, B6bnouvz – 2nd class cars, rebuilt at PESA. In August 2020, InterCity ordered the modernization of 60 cars to the level of type 111A-30 COMBO. These cars are a new quality in travel. The car has closed compartments for disabled people and families with children. There are three such compartments; two 6-seater compartments for families with small children and one four-seater compartment for disabled people and carers. There is a ramp for entering wheelchairs, which is manually unfolded by the train crew. There is also a non-compartment space in the car for other passengers. By August 2021, 40 modernized cars had been delivered. The remaining 20 units were delivered by spring 2022. Mainly cars of type 111A Lux and 112A Lux were rebuilt.

Passenger cars type 111A-20 and type 111AMM-20 are cars made under the same contract and are the same. The difference is that type 111A-20 cars were built in Bydgoszcz, and type 111AMM-20 cars were built in Mińsk Mazowiecki. The cars are non-compartment. All cars have the letter designation B9nopuz and the boxes stand on modified 4ANcS type rolling bogies. These are cars that have already received a black window strip and blue entrance doors as standard.

Passenger car type 141A-20, designation AB9nouz is a 1st and 2nd class car. The 141A-20 car consists of a compartment part (class 1, three compartments with 6 seats each) and a non-compartment part (class 2). 48 seats were installed in the non-compartment part. The cars have 4ANcS type rolling bogies. These cars were modernized in Bydgoszcz and Mińsk Mazowiecki.

Contract for 90 cars for PKP InterCity.

In December 2019, the FPS factory in Poznań delivered the last modernized passenger cars from the 90 ordered cars. The contract was worth PLN 410 billion and was completed 5 months ahead of schedule. The first contract covered 60 wagons, with an option right for another 30 wagons, which was used. The task of modernizing 90 wagons was carried out with the participation of financing under the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020. The first wagons were delivered in November 2017. Modernization was carried out as part of the P5 level repairs, so as not to start the process of new certification.

The wagons were made in several types. Among them are class 2, compartment wagons. New, comfortable seats, air conditioning, 230 V sockets, internet signal amplifiers and devices for wireless internet, electronic passenger information system, toilets in a closed system were installed. The comfort of the ride and silence inside the wagon are ensured by the installation of modern rolling bogies. The Rail Vehicle Factory, designed and manufactured 180 new type 25AN4 rolling bogies increasing the speed of the vehicles to 160 km/h. The modernization of the wagons was a very complex task. Each modernized wagon consists of 3,600 different elements, with a total number of almost 62,000 parts, including over 20,000 connecting elements.

Passenger cars of type 161A, 162A, 163A.

In the PolRegio company, there was a period in which the carrier participated in organizing long-distance transport. In 2010, at the PESA company, on behalf of the Przewozy Regionalne company, 6 type 111A cars were thoroughly rebuilt for the needs of RegioEkspres connections. As a result of this modernization, 2 cars were created, marked with series 161A, 162A and 163A, differing in purpose: Type 161A are cars with 2nd class seats, with separate places and a toilet adapted to the needs of disabled people and space for larger hand luggage, including bicycles and ski equipment. The car has 50 seats. Type 162A, 2nd class. There are 78 seats in the car. Type 163A, 1st class. There are 67 seats in the car. All cars are non-compartment. All carriages received 4ANcS type bogies. The windows were replaced. Entrance doors with a push-pull sliding mechanism were also installed, while the inter-carriage doors were equipped with an electric-pneumatic drive, which allows them to be opened using a button. The entrance doors were painted navy blue, in accordance with UIC requirements. Closed toilets were installed. The carriages were equipped with an electronic passenger information system in the form of monitors. There are 4 monitors in each carriage. All modernized carriages received a uniform color scheme according to the new design, intended for the new category of RegioEkspres trains launched on June 1, 2010. RegioEkspres trains used electric locomotives of the EP07P type, which were painted brown.

Later, Przewozy Regionalne commissioned PESA to modernize 10 more 111A carriages; 3 cars to the 161A standard, 4 cars to the 162A standard and 3 cars to the 163A standard. In total, the company has 16 modernized cars: 5 161A units, 6 162A units, 5 161A units. The career of RegioEkspres trains ended in December 2013.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman