EIB supports purchase of modern trams for Krakow and Silesia

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided two loans totalling over US$85 million for the purchase of modern energy-efficient low-floor trams for Krakow and Upper Silesia Agglomeration in Poland. The EIB will also finance the modernisation of the existing tram stock and infrastructure in Silesia.
July 10, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

The 4270 European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided two loans totalling over US$85 million for the purchase of modern energy-efficient low-floor trams for Krakow and Upper Silesia Agglomeration in Poland.

The EIB will also finance the modernisation of the existing tram stock and infrastructure in Silesia.  
 
The Krakow Municipal Transport Company (MPK S.A.) received a loan of US$24 million for the purchase of 36 low-floor modern trams, which will be some 43 m long with a capacity of approximately 300 passengers. They will be air-conditioned and will contain modern passenger information systems as well as ticket vending machines. In each carriage there will be luggage and bicycle accommodation spaces; USB ports and power points will also be provided, enabling passengers to recharge their phones and other mobile electronic devices.
 
An EIB loan of US$61 million will be used to improve Upper Silesia’s tram infrastructure, to purchase 42 low-floor trams and modernise 95 trams which have been serving the Silesian cities for very many years. Funds provided by the EIB will also finance the reconstruction of the traction system and modernisation of almost 63 km of tracks. The new trams, which will travel on the upgraded tracks, will not only be faster but also safer and quieter. The borrower for this project is Bank Pekao which, thanks to the EIB loan, was able to offer more attractive financing terms to the Silesian Tram Company, Tramwaje Śląskie, which will implement the project.
 
The new trams for Krakow and Silesia will be produced by PESA Bydgoszcz, which will fit them with high-tech energy saving motors and special platforms, making boarding and disembarking easier for those with reduced mobility. The trams for Silesia will also be made by Modertrans Poznań Sp.

László Baranyay, EIB vice-president with responsibility for the bank’s operations in Poland, said:  “Promoting competitive and environmentally friendly transport services is among the European Investment Bank’s operational priorities.  We are therefore especially pleased that our loans will co-finance the purchase of modern, energy-efficient trams for Krakow and Upper Silesia, since these investments will both increase the safety and quality of public transport services and reduce emissions of substances harmful to the environment.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Egis to operate public bike scheme for City of Krakow
    July 27, 2016
    French engineering group Egis is to operate the public cycle scheme in the city of Krakow, Poland, under an eight-year contract, during which Egis will replace the existing scheme with a new one, integrating the user database to ensure continuity. The contract involves an implementation period of three months after which the new generation bikes will be deployed progressively to reach 1500 active elements by April 2017. The new scheme will use a technology developed by the Social Bicycles company, whe
    Read More
  • Better websites build smarter transport participation
    March 17, 2017
    Transport initiatives are gaining traction through well-designed websites. Four European smart transport-oriented websites have gained honours in the 2016 .eu Web Awards, an online competition inaugurated in 2014 to recognise the most impressive sites within the .eu internet domain in terms of their design and content. The four were among 15 finalists across all five categories of the scheme, giving the transport sector a high profile for its proactive use of sites as communications tools for driving major
    Read More
  • Cubic wins contract from MTA to replace MetroCard with new fare payment system
    October 27, 2017
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been chosen for a contract valued, $539.5 million (£409.4 million) with additional options worth $33.9 million (£25.7 million), by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to replace the MetroCard with a fare payment system similar to Transport for London (TfL). The new system is designed with the intention of providing an enhanced and integrated travel experience across the region including seamless access to Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-Nort
    Read More
  • US DOT announces funding opportunity to improve bus service nationwide
    March 31, 2016
    The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the opportunity to apply for approximately US$266 million in competitive grant funding for bus programs nationwide. The funding consists of US$211 million in grants for buses and bus facilities projects, as well as US$55 million specifically for FTA’s Low and No Emission (Low-No) bus program, which promotes technologically-advanced and environmentally-friendly buses. These investments will help advance the President’
    Read More

Highlighted Content