Hitachi and PESA Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Growth in Poland's Rail Market

Bydgoszcz to Become a Local Centre of Excellence for Advanced Rail Technologies.

Warsaw, Poland, June 16, 2026

PESA Bydgoszcz, Poland's largest manufacturer of rail vehicles, and Hitachi Rail, a global pioneer in innovative solutions for railways and mobility of the future, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The partnership covers the development and production of high-speed rolling stock, a joint product offering for double-decker trains, and the transfer of advanced technologies.

This collaboration provides a significant boost to the development of the Polish railway industry, strengthening local expertise in areas where the Polish market is only just beginning to build up experience. For PESA, this marks the start of the next phase of consistent development following the company's acquisition by the Polish Development Fund, which supported its stabilisation, rebuilding of its production capacity, and its preparation to undertake increasingly advanced technological and export projects. As a result, PESA is now a partner capable of participating in strategic ventures with one of the global leaders in the railway industry. For its part, the Hitachi Group, through its partnership with Poland s largest manufacturer of rolling stock, will significantly strengthen its involvement in key sectors of the Polish economy, including transport, energy and finance.

Consortium in the tender for very high-speed vehicles for PKP Intercity.

One of the key points of the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) signed between Hitachi Rail and PESA Bydgoszcz is their joint participation in a tender for PKP Intercity for the purchase of 20 electric multiple units (EMUs) with an operating speed of at least 320 km/h (so-called VHS - very high-speed - vehicles), with an option for a further 35 trains and their maintenance for 30 years. The agreement provides for a two-stage production process. The first 20 units would be manufactured at Hitachi Rail's facilities in Italy. The second stage of the project envisages the inclusion and gradual increase of the Bydgoszcz-based company's involvement in the production process, leading to the ultimate partial localization of the VHS vehicles. PESA would also be responsible for the technical maintenance of all trains in Poland.

As part of the consortium, the partners plan to offer the Polish operator Hitachi Rail's flagship ETR1000 train, which has performed exceptionally well on European high-speed rail routes over the past decade, reinforcing the role of rail as an alternative to short-haul flights. The ETR1000 trains, are homologated for operation in countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy and France, with the various power supply systems and signalling systems used across Europe. They are distinguished, among other things, by their aerodynamic design and state-of-the-art energy-saving solutions, which translate into high operational efficiency. Passenger comfort is ensured by, amongst other things: excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, LED lighting, air conditioning, accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility, on-board monitoring, Wi-Fi and power sockets, with specific solutions able to be flexibly tailored to the customer's requirements.

New capabilities due to the transfer of technology

The collaboration with the manufacturer of the legendary Japanese Shinkansen and the famous ETR1000 train also opens up entirely new technological opportunities for PESA. A second key element of the partnership is technology transfer, covering, amongst other things, the welding of aluminium train bodies and the construction of double-deck trains. Modern production halls will be built in Bydgoszcz, which will become a local centre of excellence for these technologies, enabling further projects, including the production of modern double-decker vehicles, to be carried out in Poland.

Our collaboration with Hitachi Rail, a global pioneer in high-speed rail and a leader in innovative railway technologies, marks a historic moment for us. Thanks to the technology transfer and the establishment of a centre of excellence for aluminium structures in Bydgoszcz, PESA is joining the European league of manufacturers of the fastest trains. This is not only a joint bid for PKP Intercity, but also the foundation for the production of modern double-decker trains at our Bydgoszcz plant for markets across the CEE region, emphasised Krzysztof Zdziarski, CEO of PESA Bydgoszcz SA.

Partnering with PESA represents a key milestone in expanding our international footprint and advancing innovative rail solutions across Europe. By leveraging global expertise alongside strong local capabilities, we are actively contributing to a more connected, efficient and sustainable mobility ecosystem, in line with our long-term vision for the future of rail, said Stefano Santinelli, Senior Vice President, Chief Government, PA & Communications Officer, Hitachi Rail.

The agreement with PESA Bydgoszcz is a key element of our development in the Polish rolling stock market and is an excellent addition to Hitachi Rail's local business, which has so far focused mainly on digital, interoperable ERTMS signalling systems. Our aim is a long-term, comprehensive commitment to building a modern, reliable and sustainable railway in Poland based on proven, innovative solutions. Hitachi Rail's strategy also involves investment in local content, not only in terms of production development, but also local expertise across the entire market. We are convinced that this will be the greatest added value for our country, said Pawe Przy ycki, CEO of Hitachi Rail in Poland.

Poland is one of the key markets for the Hitachi Group across Europe, where we have been present for 20 years. Every day, around 7,000 of our employees across 26 locations and 6 factories contribute to build

LINK:	https://www.hitachi.com/en-eu/press/hitachi-and-pesa-announce-strategi...
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