Poland, June 2026 – Hitachi Rail and PESA Bydgoszcz have signed a strategic cooperation agreement that includes a joint bid for PKP Intercity's tender to supply 20 high-speed electric multiple units capable of operating at speeds of at least 320 km/h, with an option for an additional 35 trains and a long-term maintenance contract.
The partners intend to offer Hitachi Rail's ETR1000 high-speed train platform, which is already certified for operation across several European countries. Under the proposed arrangement, the initial fleet would be manufactured at Hitachi's facilities in Italy before production is progressively localised in Poland, with PESA assuming an increasing manufacturing role and responsibility for fleet maintenance. The agreement also includes technology transfer covering aluminium carbody construction, double-deck train development and advanced rolling stock manufacturing techniques.
The collaboration supports Poland's long-term high-speed rail strategy, including future services on the Central Communication Port (CPK) network linking Warsaw with Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław. By combining international expertise with domestic manufacturing, the partnership aims to strengthen Poland's rail industry while enhancing local engineering capabilities and supply chain resilience.
Beyond the PKP Intercity tender, the agreement establishes a framework for future cooperation in high-speed and double-deck rolling stock for Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. The partnership reflects a broader industry trend of combining technology transfer with local production to accelerate high-speed rail development, improve industrial competitiveness and support the expansion of sustainable passenger transport across Europe.
Source: Railway Pro
Hitachi and PESA Partner on Poland's High-Speed Rail Ambitions
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Strategic partnerships between global and domestic rolling stock manufacturers are becoming increasingly important as countries expand high-speed rail networks and strengthen local industrial capabilities. Hitachi Rail and Poland's PESA have announced a collaboration to support the next generation of high-speed train development for the Polish market.
