- Traction drives
- Auxiliary converters
- AC & DC power supply systems
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In early July this year, Newag applied to the Railway Transport Authority for type approval of the Griffin E4MSUa multisystem locomotives equipped with Medcom inverters and auxiliary converters. This is one of the final stages of the formalities that must be completed before the locomotives, newly purchased by PKP Intercity, start running on Polish tracks.
As a reminder, in April this year, Newag completed the type approval process (testing and conformity assessment) of the E4MSUa locomotive at the Experimental Track Operation Center of the Railway Research Institute in Węglewo near Żmigród. The Griffin locomotive underwent final validation tests in multiple-unit operation at the speed of 160 km/h and the locomotive’s communication with passenger coaches provided by PKP Intercity. The next step was to collect all the reports and test results, and then submit the complete set of documents to the Railway Transport Authority for the issuance of a vehicle type permit. This stage has just been completed. After obtaining the necessary permits for placing on the market in Poland, Griffin multisystem locomotives will be immediately transferred to PKP Intercity. The necessary training and instruction will also be provided before they go into service.
“GRIFFIN E4MSUa is the first Polish multisystem electric locomotive that has reached a speed of 240 km/h during test runs! Ultimately, it will develop speeds of up to 200 km/h, which will allow to make efficient use of the upgraded railroad lines. We are pleased that soon PKP Intercity passengers will be able to ‘feel for themselves’ how it works, and we are proud to participate in the development of Newag’s new innovative products,” emphasized Paweł Choduń, Vice President of Medcom. “The SiC technology inverters and auxiliary converters from Medcom that Griffin E4MSUa locomotives are equipped with are not only energy efficient, but have also been optimized in terms of weight. This is what, among other things, makes the locomotive the lightest in its class,” he added.
Ultimately, the locomotives will have type approval for six countries, so they will run train sets not only on the Polish, but also on the European rail network: in Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary. One of them is currently in Czechia, where official type approval testing for foreign markets is expected to begin.
It is worth mentioning that the Contract concluded in October 2021 between PKP Intercity and Newag was for the purchase of ten locomotives with an option for five more. In June this year, PKP Intercity took advantage of this option and decided to buy 5 additional multisystem Griffin locomotives.