Czechowice Dziedzice 2023-10-21
ETZ Pesa Elf II 34WEa-002.
Pesa Elf, Pesa Acatus II and Pesa Acatus Plus trains.
Pesa Elf trains are Polish electric multiple units, adapted to regional traffic. The trains have been built since 2010 at the Polish Pesa factory in Bydgoszcz. "Elf" is an acronym for the English phrase electric low floor. Pesa Elf trains are produced with a varying number of cars, from two to six. The equipment, arrangement of seats, number of toilets, etc. also differ.
The Elf train family includes the following models: Type EN62 = 21WE, Type EN76 = 22WE, Type EN96 = 34WE and 27WE for SKM Warszaw. In addition, ETZ trains marked Acatus II and Acatus Plus were built. Type EN77 = 32WE Acatus II - 4-car. Type EN64 = 40WE Acatus Plus - 3-car. Type EN99 = 41WE Actus Plus - 2-wagon. By 2020, over 120 Pesa Elf trains had been produced.
Pesa Elf trains are powered by 3 kV DC electric traction. The width of the train is 2.88 m, the height is 4.28 m, the length depends on the number of wagons. The design speed of Elf trains is 160 km/h. Although the first copy was designed for a speed of 120 km/h.
History of Pesa Elf trains.
The competitor of the Pesa factory in Bydgoszcz was and is the second Polish company Newag from Nowy Sącz. But this competition has a positive impact on the quality of Polish structures and passenger satisfaction. In 1998, Pesa was deeply restructured and began building diesel passenger cars. In 2004, the factory undertook to build the first EMUs for the Warsaw Commuter Railway. It was a type 13WE (EN95) train. Despite plans to purchase 10 units, production was completed with one train. In 2006, ETZ 15WE was produced, and in 2007, ETZ 16WEk. Both trains were also built in only one copy.
However, carriers' interest in new ETZ trains was increasing. There has been cooperation between producers and users. Carriers wanted trains for quick passenger boarding, and as a result, with a low floor, which makes it easier to get on and off. Additionally, more and more travelers carried bicycles, strollers and wheelchairs. The plant in Bydgoszcz designed the Acatus train, which is designed for platforms with a height of 0.55 - 0.76 m, from the rail head. The train does not have any boarding steps. An Elf train was also designed, which has access steps and is intended for lower platforms. About 150 engineers and scientists from Pesa, subcontractors and scientific institutions participated in the program. Foreign solutions were also looked at.
In December 2009, before the Elf train was ready, the first contract for the delivery of 8 ETZ trains for the Silesian Voivodeship was signed. In the following years, further contracts were signed. The Elf train was shown in 2010 during the InnoTrans fair in Berlin. The EN76-001 train, built for the Silesian Voivodeship, was then presented.
W 2010 roku, powstała odmiana pociągu Elf, która została nazwana Acatus II. Pociągi te zamówiło tylko Województwo Małopolskie.
The Pesa Elf family was designed as a universal-purpose train platform. When in 2013, Pesa began to lose contracts with Newag (in terms of price), the Acatus Plus EMU was built in Bydgoszcz, which reduced the costs of train construction while maintaining the basic advantages of the train.
The train marked Elf II is an Elf train adapted to new regulations, i.e. technical specifications for interoperability.
34WEa Elf II design.
The train consists of two carriages. Each carriage is equipped with one pair of doors. This arrangement meant that the train would operate on routes with small streams of passengers. All doors are located in a low-floor zone with retractable steps underneath to facilitate boarding from platforms lower than 0.55 - 0.76 m from the rail head. The first and last bogies are drive bogies type 26MN, with an axle base of 2.80 m. The middle bogie is a rolling bogie type 40AN in the Jacobs system, with an axle base of 3.00 m. Each bogie has double springs. The first stage is steel springs. The second stage is pneumatic cushions. Hydraulic shock absorbers were installed to additionally dampen vibrations. The driving and rolling carriages are designed and manufactured by Pesa. Asynchronous motors MF 50-29-4 (400 KW) were used. The engines are of Austrian production. Asynchronous electric motors are controlled by an inverter. The train has two Stemmann current collectors. Knorr-Bremse brake system.
There are raised floor zones above all wheelchairs, accessed by stairs or ramps. The three-step stairs are located only in the area above the drive trolleys. The diameter of the wheels is 0.85 m. The train has a wheel flange lubrication system, only for the first axle of the driving bogie. The train can run with double traction. It is possible to connect up to three trains into double traction. The trains are operated as Class 2. In the passenger area there are two closed toilets and a space for passengers with limited mobility, with large luggage or bicycles, near which, at the doors, there are elevators for the disabled. There is always a toilet for disabled people and people with small children, which has larger dimensions.
The wagon bodies have a three-dimensional structure made of closed profile steel. The skin is 1.5 mm thick and made of steel, while the front of the vehicle is made of plastics.
Data T-T 34WEa Elf II.
ETZ 2-wagon. Power supply 3 kV DC. Four 400 kW engines. Acceleration 1 m/2. The design speed is 160 km/h. Track width 1,435 mm. Total length 42.83 m. Width 2.84 m. Height 4.30 m. Floor height 0.76 - 0.90 m. The entrance to the wagon is at a height of 0.76 m, from the rail head. Number of seats approximately 100, depending on the user's wishes. Structural strength category P - II in accordance with EN 12663. C-1 crash resistance according to EN 15227. The train has air conditioning, a closed toilet, space for bicycles and for strollers and wheelchairs, WiFi, 230 V sockets, ticket machines.
34WEa-002 Elf II.
There are 102 seats in the train and an additional 86 standing places. The toilet is accessible for disabled people. For people in wheelchairs, there is a ramp in the door. The train is equipped with air conditioning. Bicycles can be brought to the warehouse. The train is monitored and equipped with an audio and video railway information system.
Koleje Śląskie ordered 4 trains of type 34WEa-001 / -004. The letter "a" in the train symbol stands for asynchronous motors. The order was received in 2017. It has been adapted to the needs of disabled people, and also has tinted windows, a changing table, diaper containers, special bicycle mounts, air conditioning, electrical sockets, a closed vacuum toilet and energy-saving LED lighting. On the Elf II train there is a closed space for the train manager; with a built-in microphone enabling the broadcasting of messages to passengers and a monitor enabling viewing from internal cameras in the train. Moreover, Elf II has an intercom ensuring communication between passengers and the driver. The vehicle is also equipped with a special "parking" system and ETCS control and GSM-R communication devices.
The type 34WEa train was approved on December 1, 2017. Train 34WEa-002 consists of two cars; No. 94 51 2 140 766-8 (PL-KSL A), No. 94 51 2 140 767-6 (PL-KSL B). Factory number E722BNA002. Production 2017. The train set off on the route in December 2017. In 2023, the train was still in service.
Of the batch of Elf II trains ordered by Koleje Śląskie, the last one was delivered in July 2020. The last train was a three-unit electric multiple unit manufactured for Koleje Śląskie by PESA Bydgoszcz SA. Elf II 3-car vehicle with 154 standing and 114 seating positions. In Koleje Śląskie, new trains constitute 75% of the entire rolling stock. Under the contract, 21 Elf II vehicles were delivered. The total cost of all vehicles is PLN 255,890,000.00 net.
Silesian Railways.
Currently (2021), Koleje Śląskie has over 60 vehicles in use from six manufacturers;
Electric Multiple Unit EN75 - "Flirt" - 212 seats, 284 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit EN76 - "Elf" - 200 seats, 250 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 27WEb - "Elf" - 282 seats, 270 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 22WEd - "Elf II" - 190 seats, 150 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 21WEa - "Elf II" - 154 seats, 114 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 34WEa - "Elf II" - 102 seats, 86 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 14WE - 186 seats, 195 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 35WE - "Impuls" - 282 seats, 319 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit 36WEa - "Impuls" - 156 seats, 120 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit EN57AKŚ - 168 seats, 195 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit EN57KM - 204 seats, 195 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Bicycle holders, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit EN71AKŚ - 256 seats, 260 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Diesel rail bus type 221M - SA138 - 182 seats, 210 standing places, Toilet for the disabled, Ramp for the disabled, Air conditioning, Bicycle holders, Passenger information system, Monitoring.
Electric Multiple Unit EN57 - 188 seats, 195 standing places, toilet.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman