Koleje Dolnośląskie has purchased five coaches from PKP Cargo intended exclusively for transporting bicycles. After undergoing a thorough specialist inspection (at the P5 level), all of them will begin operating on routes next summer season.
Each of the new coaches has an area of 33 sq m and, after being adapted to their new purpose, will be able to accommodate approximately 60 bicycles. KD allocated PLN 195,000 gross to purchase the rolling stock, while the specialist inspection will cost an additional PLN 30,000–40,000.
KD:
Given the specifics of our region, where cycling infrastructure is constantly being modernized and expanded, the purchase and modernization of cargo coaches is a natural consequence of these efforts, resulting from the needs of our passengers.
The Office of Rail Transport gave a positive opinion on the idea of introducing bicycle coaches into the KD fleet. The new trains will be operated by conductor teams with increased staffing, while specific loading and unloading procedures will be presented to passengers after safety analyses have been conducted. The routes on which the special coaches will operate will be selected based, among other things, on analyses of the previous popularity of journeys by cyclists.
We will certainly return to this subject.