Koleje Dolnośląskie applied for EU funding in three applications:

  • two were submitted to the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CUPT) under the KPO – they concerned financing for 20 Elf 2 trains that had been purchased earlier. Only three applications to CUPT received full funding (and two of them, belonging to KD, were recognised as the best among all 26 applications).
  • one was submitted under the European Funds for Lower Silesia programme (FEDŚ) – it concerned a PLN 38 million subsidy for KD, or approximately PLN 170 million.

“We have three cards on the table, each worth hundreds of millions of zlotys in subsidies. This gives us enormous room for manoeuvre when it comes to our next plans to purchase new vehicles,” says Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.

The release of an additional PLN 170 million means that Koleje Dolnośląskie currently has access to EU funds worth more than half a billion zlotys. It can invest this amount not only in rolling stock already purchased, but also announce new tenders.

“I would like to heartily congratulate Koleje Dolnośląskie, which has become one of the brands defining Lower Silesia. When I talk to local government officials throughout Poland and say that I am from Lower Silesia, I often hear: ‘Oh, you have the best railways in Poland there!’ This is an enormous compliment to the more than one thousand employees of Koleje Dolnośląskie,” says Cezary Przybylski, marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

The “three cards” mentioned by Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie, mean that the company can now choose among offers to refinance 20 five-car Elf 2 trains, or …

“We are analysing the possibility of using the EU funds already awarded to finance tenders for additional trains. At the last press conference, we announced that tenders for 10 diesel-powered vehicles and 10 electric ones would be announced in connection with the release of substantial company funds. Now a team of specialists is checking what options we have following the award of another PLN 170 million,” says Wojciech Zdanowski, vice-president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.

For now, it is certain that the tender for 10 diesel-powered vehicles (according to the preliminary declaration, with an option to order another 10 units) will not be covered by EU funds. Financing diesel rolling stock with EU money is currently impossible.

“I thank all the employees involved in submitting these projects. Their tremendous work received the highest assessment from the committees deciding the competitions. This is a great success for Koleje Dolnośląskie,” says Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.

Over the last five years, Koleje Dolnośląskie has expanded its rolling-stock fleet by 31 vehicles – six hybrids and 25 Elf 2 trains manufactured at the PESA factory in Bydgoszcz. Within the next few years, once further tenders have been completed, KD’s fleet will exceed the symbolic threshold of more than 100 trains.