One train car can be produced per day on Poland’s new production line

Alstom and Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) have officially opened a new fitting line dedicated to the Intercity Next Generation (ICNG) trains to be produced in Alstom’s Katowice facility.

This new fitting line features the latest technologies and processes applied to improve performance and reduce manufacturing time. Covering 6,500m², the brand-new fitting hall includes 20 work stations representing the full process from pre-fitting to cabling and interior fitting. Car body shell welding and erection, painting and final testing are performed in separate halls.

Over 500 employees are currently involved in the ICNG project in different Alstom units throughout Europe, with over 110 on this new fitting line in Katowice. It is designed to produce one train car every working day.

“We are very pleased to welcome NS management in Katowice to inaugurate the ICNG fitting line. This new line is part of an ambitious investment programme launched by Alstom for the Katowice site, one of the company’s flagship sites. Our teams in Poland are committed to making it a success,” said Gian Luca Erbacci, Alstom Senior Vice President Europe.

According to the contract, Alstom will supply NS with 79 Coradia Stream trains in their intercity version, with a maximum speed of 200km/h and a total passenger capacity of the fleet of 25,000 seats.

The complete trainset is based on three types of cars – driving, intermediate and end cars – offering optimised capacity to the operational requirements. This flexible design allows the train’s length to vary from three to 10 cars. For NS, Alstom will supply an eight-car as well as a five-car version.

The first trains will be delivered from January 2020 onwards. They will run on the Dutch national network on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Breda high-speed line in 2021 and on the Den Haag-Eindhoven corridor in 2022. The total contract is worth over €800 million, with options for more trains.

The new Intercity trains feature spacious and well-lit multi-purpose areas for reading, resting, wheelchairs and bicycles, as well as dedicated restrooms for people with reduced mobility. The trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, power sockets and LED lighting. They present wide access for a swift passenger flow and are equipped with a dynamic real-time passenger information system. All coaches are fitted with security cameras to increase passenger and crew safety. The trains meet the highest standards for interoperability and will be equipped with ATB and ERTMS systems. The trains are able to operate on 25KV AC (high-speed line) and 1.5 KV DC (main railway network).

“NS congratulates Alstom and the people working in the Alstom Katowice site with the opening of their new fitting hall, ready to produce not only the Coradia Stream trains for NS, but for many more future projects. After the mock-up presentation in 2017, Dutch railway customers can now see that their new Intercity is coming to life in this state-of-the-art production facility,” said Roel Okhuijsen, Director New Rolling Stock NS.