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 Paweł Przyżycki, 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 building a stable and crisis-resilient Polish economy. We are developing in two ways – through investments in our local factories, and operations and technology centres, as well as through strategic partnerships. To date, we have established such partnerships in the energy sector – covering the construction of Europe’s first fleet of SMRs and the modernisation of the transmission grid, as well as with Poland’s largest banks in the field of innovative IT solutions and cybersecurity services. Now it is the turn of transport – the third, strategic pillar of our business in Poland. The partnership with PESA Bydgoszcz sets new directions for development not only for the Hitachi Group in Poland, but also for the entire Polish railway industry,” said Tadeusz Woszczyński, General Manager CEE at Hitachi Europe Ltd. 

“The partnership between PESA and Hitachi Rail marks the next stage in the development of the Bydgoszcz based company, with PESA increasingly taking on the role of a leading industrial partner in projects requiring high-tech expertise. This partnership is based on Hitachi Rail’s European resources, including Italian expertise in the manufacture of rolling stock for high-speed rail, and forms part of the strategic dimension of cooperation between Poland and Japan – one of the global leaders in railway technology. For PFR, this is an example of an investment that strengthens Polish industry through technology transfer, but also builds a lasting place for Poland in European value chains. For me personally, it is also important that the further development of low carbon transport in Poland contributes to the energy transition,” said Piotr Matczuk, President of the Polish Development Fund.  

Prospects – international expansion

The partnership between PESA Bydgoszcz and Hitachi Rail is long-term and involves cooperation on the production of rolling stock for other markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Scandinavian market. The product portfolio will include high-speed trains and double-decker vehicles, manufactured in Poland in aluminium technology. In the future, it may be expanded to inter-regional and metro trains. 

About PESA Bydgoszcz

PESA is Poland’s largest manufacturer of rolling stock. Trains and trams from Bydgoszcz carry passengers to most Polish cities and regions, as well as to over a dozen European countries, including Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania. Following the company’s acquisition in 2018 by the Polish Development Fund, PESA has been consistently implementing the PESA 2030+ strategy, which is based on four key pillars: an innovative vehicle platform, international expansion, investment in modern technologies and “Green PESA”. The company’s product portfolio includes Generation 3.0 vehicles, multiple units, locomotives and trams utilising various types of propulsion: electric, battery, hydrogen or ecoDiesel. The PESA plant in Mińsk Mazowiecki is the largest rail rolling stock maintenance and repair centre in Poland, and the company is steadily expanding its international network of such facilities across Central and Eastern Europe, with a focus on local partnerships. PESA recently acquired the German tram manufacturer HeiterBlick. The growing order portfolio has also led to investments in production halls, robotisation, laser welding and process automation, with the aim of doubling production capacity at its plants in Poland.

More information: pesa.pl 

About Hitachi Rail

Hitachi Rail is committed to driving the sustainable mobility transition and has a clear focus on partnering with customers to rethink mobility. Its mission is to help every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, seamless and sustainable transport. With revenues of over €7bn and 24,000 employees across more than 50 countries, Hitachi Rail is a trusted partner to the world’s best transport organisations. The company's reach is global, but the business is local – with success built on developing local talent and investing in people and communities.  Its international capabilities and expertise span every part of the urban, mainline and freight rail ecosystems – from high quality manufacturing and maintenance of rolling stock to secure digital signalling, smart operations and payment systems. Hitachi Rail, famous for Japan’s iconic high-speed bullet train, draws on the digital and AI expertise of Hitachi Group companies to accelerate innovation and develop new technologies. Hitachi Group is present in 140 countries with over 270,000 employees and global revenues of €54.55bn / ¥8,564 bn. 

More information: hitachirail.com

About Hitachi Europe

Hitachi Europe Ltd. (HEU) is a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., headquartered in Ditton Park, United Kingdom. The company serves as the headquarters of the Hitachi Group for the EMEA region. It focuses its activities on Social Innovation Business, by providing innovations that respond to the needs of society. HEU and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of information and telecommunications systems: railway systems, energy and industrial systems, industrial components and equipment, automotive systems, digital media, consumer products and more, with operations and in-house R&D laboratories in the EMEA region.

More information: hitachi.eu

Hitachi Europe Branch in Poland (HEU Poland) is the regional headquarters in Central and Eastern Europe, covering Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Baltic States. HEU is an important supplier to the Polish financial and energy sector, providing, among others, data storage systems, paperless systems, fixed asset management systems (EAM), ticketing systems, cash recycling devices, AI solutions, data analytics solutions, cybersecurity and software development services, and regulatory solutions (durable medium, MiFID II). Since 2007, Hitachi has been a member of the Banking Technology Forum (FTB) at the Polish Bank Association.

More information: hitachi.pl

About the Polish Development Fund

Polish Development Fund S.A. is a commercial company in which the State Treasury holds a stake. PFR invests responsibly, mobilising capital and expertise to realise the economic ambitions of the Polish people and strengthen the resilience of the economy. PFR’s strategic priorities include the energy transition, the international competitiveness of Polish enterprises, innovation and the country’s technological autonomy, the long-term financial security of Poles, and economic and defence resilience. By the end of 2025, the PFR Capital Group had invested – directly and indirectly – PLN 24 billion, and allocated PLN 5 billion to VC and PE funds as the largest institutional investor in the region. PFR is the main shareholder of PESA Bydgoszcz, holding 99.78% of the shares.

Further information: pfr.pl