First PESA-built Class 655-5 EMU delivered to Romania

During the Railway Conference in Oradea organized by Club Feroviar on 21 and 22 May 2025, PESA presented the first Regio160 unit produced for Romanian railways on the second day of the event. Following the presentation, the first Type RE-R EMU will start its initial homologation tests at the Făurei test facility.

PESA has signed contracts with ARF (Autoritatea pentru Reformă Feroviară, the Romanian Railway Reform Authority) for the delivery of two types of EMUs  along with 15 years of maintenance. The first contract, signed in December 2023, covers the delivery of 20 Type RE-IR2 InterRegio units, with an option for up to nine more, which was confirmed in April 2025. The remaining three contracts, signed in January 2024, are for the supply of 62 Type RE-R regional units for three regions: Bucharest, Cluj, and Suceava. The train shown at the conference in Oradea is the first of the regional units.

Maciej Maciejewski, PESA Vice President for Sales, added: “This contract is a major challenge for us, especially due to the short delivery timeline. That’s why it’s particularly satisfying that the first vehicle has arrived in Romania on schedule. Immediately after the presentation, we’re heading to Făurei to begin the homologation tests.”

Mariana Ioniță, Undersecretary of State at the Romanian Ministry of Transport, emphasized: “Given delays in deliveries from other manufacturers, we appreciate that PESA has provided the first unit even ahead of schedule. We value the Polish company’s approach to our orders - you’ve shown that customer expectations can be taken seriously.”

The PESA‘s Class 655-5s are three-car 25 kV 50 Hz EMUs with a top speed of 160 km/h, a power of 1,600 kW  and a Bo‘Bo‘ + 2‘2‘ + 2‘2‘ axle arrangement. It has a length of 77,160 mm over couplings, a width of 2,820 mm, floor height at entrance door 600 mm above TOR and a maximum axle-load of 18 t. Each train has 238 seats, of them are 14 tip-up seats. There is also space for up to 227 standees. The EMUs are fitted with on-board ETCS.

According to the contract, PESA will be responsible for maintaining all vehicles delivered to Romanian Railways for at least 15 years. For this reason, the manufacturer has opened a local office in Bucharest to manage contract execution and establish service centers.

Hanna Wiśniewska Sibru, Head of PESA’s Office in Romania, said: “Until now, PESA was known in Romania as a tram manufacturer. We’re now taking the next step by starting deliveries of passenger trains. We want to continue developing our presence here, which is why we’re already in discussions with local partners who will support the launch of service centers in Bucharest, Cluj, and Suceava.“

Between 2012 and 2023, PESA delivered trams to the Romanian market. A total of 37 of them are already operating in Cluj, Iași, and Craiova. As part of the PESA 2030+ strategy, the company is steadily expanding its presence in international markets.