- Source: Pesa 620M
Pesa 620M is a broad-gauge diesel railcar produced since 2004 by Pesa for the Lithuanian Railways (12 units) and Ukrainian Railways (11 units), and since 2011, in cooperation with Belkommunmash, also for the Belarusian Railway (6 units). A total of 29 units were produced.
History
After introducing the 214M Partner diesel railcars to the Polish market in 2001, Pesa decided to produce similar vehicles for broad-gauge railways. The first units were purchased by Ukrainian Railways. In 2004, the 620M-001 was showcased at the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin, and deliveries to the customer began. In addition to the 620M vehicles, a related motorized inspection car, the 610M, was also delivered to Ukraine. Subsequent orders for the 620M came from Lithuania and Belarus. The Belarusian vehicles were produced in collaboration with Belkommunmash in Minsk, which was responsible for tasks such as interior outfitting.
Following the experience with the 620M, railways in Ukraine and Lithuania decided to also order a more spacious, two-car version of these vehicles – the Pesa 630M.
Design
The 620M is a developed version of the Partner diesel railcar (Pesa 214M). The primary differences between this model and its predecessor are its adaptation to a broader gauge (1,520 mm) and a wider loading gauge (T1 according to GOST 9238-83), which allows for a 2+3 seating arrangement in the passenger area. The vehicle's range is 1,000 km.
The structural strength of the 620M meets the PN-EN 12663 (category PII) standard. The vehicles use Pesa's own 8AS type running bogies and 3MSb powered bogies. The suspension system features two levels of springing, comprising coil springs and air cushions. The bogies can accommodate wheelsets for both 1,520 mm and 1,435 mm track gauges, allowing the 620M to travel independently across Polish territory. The railcars can operate in multiple unit configurations (up to three vehicles).
The interior of the vehicles is fully air-conditioned and equipped with monitoring systems. A multifunctional space is located near one of the entrances.
Operations
= Ukraine
=The diesel vehicles used in passenger service on Ukrainian railways, produced by Ganz-MÁVAG (D and D1 series) and RVR in Riga (DR1 series), were significantly worn out. Ukrainian Railways initially planned to order diesel railcars from the Czech company Vagonka Studénka. However, due to financial difficulties, they decided to place an order with Pesa in Bydgoszcz.
Deliveries began in 2004, with the first vehicles being an inspection railcar (610M) for the Ukrainian Railways' management and the first 620M railcars for regular passenger services.
Originally, the order consisted of four diesel railcars intended for use on lightly trafficked routes. Positive experiences with these vehicles led Ukrainian Railways to order additional units, which were allocated to the Southern and Lviv Railways. In total, ten 620M railcars were delivered to Ukraine between 2004 and 2009.
In October 2012, a new unit (620M-025) was delivered to Crimea. This vehicle, painted in colors reflecting the flag of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, was officially launched on October 26 at the Simferopol railway station. The 620M-025 was purchased to service routes between Dzhankoi, Armiansk, and Feodosia.
On 30 November 2018, a new connection between Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station and Boryspil International Airport was launched, utilizing four modernized 620M railcars to handle 27 pairs of connections. During the first few weeks of operation, the average occupancy was 30 passengers. The modernization of the sixth railcar was completed in April 2019.
= Lithuania
=In 2008, Lithuanian Railways placed an order for 620M railbuses to service local lines with low traffic volumes. The first railbus was officially presented in October 2008 at the Vilnius railway station. By 2009, a total of four vehicles had been delivered. On 2 October 2008, a connection serviced by the 620M between the Vilnius railway station and the Vilnius Airport was launched. In 2009, the four delivered Pesa units also serviced routes from Vilnius to Šeštokai, Radviliškis to Mažeikiai, and Šiauliai to Rokiškis.
An agreement to deliver eight additional units was signed on 19 April 2010 in Vilnius. With the completion of deliveries in April 2011, there were 12 units of the 620M series in operation in Lithuania. The new railbuses allowed for the complete phasing out of the D1 series vehicles. Besides the previously mentioned routes, the 620M units also operate connections from Vilnius to Stasylos, Kalveliai Eldership, Ignalina, and Marcinkonys, from Kaunas to Marijampolė, Kybartai, Šeštokai, and Trakai, and from Radviliškis to Šiauliai.
= Belarus
=In 2011, Belarusian Railway placed an order for six 620M series railbuses. The production for this order was carried out in cooperation between the Polish company Pesa and the Belarusian company Belkommunmash. The first vehicle was delivered by Pesa to Minsk on 23 December 2011. From January to April 2012, technical and operational trials were conducted on the Stowbtsy–Haradzyeya line. The first unit was officially received by the customer from Belkommunmash on 13 April 2012. Belarusian 620M railbuses are designated as DP1 (ДП1) in the nomenclature of Belarusian Railway.
The official introduction of the new series into service took place on 1 May 2012 at the Kalinkavichy railway station. The first two vehicles were assigned to economy-class routes Kalinkavichy–Vasilyevichy–Khoiniki and Kalinkavichy–Slavhechna. On 25 August 2012, another 620M vehicle began servicing business-class routes, specifically Orsha–Horki and Krychaw–Orsha–Horki. The railbus for these routes is based at the locomotive depot in Mogilev.
In 2013, Pesa signed another contract for the delivery of additional rail vehicles to Belarus, specifically three units of the 730M type.