Warsaw's HyundaiRotem fleet expands

Tramwaje Warszawskie, the tramway operator in the Polish capital, caused a stir in 2019 when it ordered 123 new trams from South Korean manufacturer HyundaiRotem, the first Asian company to build new trams for a European undertaking. 

 

The contract was worth PLN 1.82bn (EUR 428M), partially funded by the EU, and included an option for a further 90 cars. The builder incorporates 60% EU components by value. After a public competition the new trams were christened Warsolino when they started to arrive in 2021. 

 

Since late May 2023, the short, 24m long Hyundai Rotem type 142N unidirectional trams have also been in revenue service in the Polish capital. They are primarily used on the cross-river line 28 between Dworzec Wschodni and Os.Górczewska. Already since early 2022, the longer type 141N unidirectional LRVs with 33m length has been in regular use, typically deployed on lines 22 and 26. The order for a total of 123 low-floor vehicles from Hyundai, included 85 that were the double-ended type 140N, 18 of the longer single-ended version 141N and 20 the shorter single-ended variant 142N. 

 

Until now it has been the first and only European tram order for the South Korean manufacturer. The first two bidirectional cars reached Poland by sea in the summer of 2021 and entered revenue service in December 2021. The entire delivery of 123 cars should be completed by the end of 2023. 

 

In autumn 2022, the Warsaw city authorities decided not to exercise the option for 90 more Hyundai trams, primarily because the manufacturer no longer wanted to deliver these vehicles in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the pre-pandemic contract.