HCP Z2

HCP Z2 are passenger cars produced between 1988 and 1996 by H. Cegielski in Poznań, adapted to the UIC-Z2 standards. A total of 8 types of these cars were built, with 118 units in total. The only operator of these cars is PKP Intercity.

History

First UIC-Z2 standard passenger cars produced in Poland

At the end of the 1970s, documentation for the first "high-comfort" cars in Poland meeting the UIC-Z2 standard was developed. The first two units were built by Pafawag in 1980 based on the documentation from the Tabor Railway Vehicle Institute. These were the first Z2 standard cars produced in the Eastern Bloc. Despite earlier declarations, Polish State Railways did not make a decision to continue work on Z standard cars.

First UIC-Z2 cars produced at H. Cegielski

It wasn't until the late 1980s, due to the ban on operating Y standard cars on Western European lines, that Polish State Railways decided to resume work on Z2 standard cars, this time at the H. Cegielski factories in Poznań. The Z2 standard car project for H. Cegielski was developed by the Tabor Railway Vehicle Institute based on the design and operational experiences of the 127A cars.
On 30 December 1988, the H. Cegielski factories produced the first two prototype Z2 standard cars – 134Aa. Based on the experiences from the production of the 134Aa cars, in 1991, H. Cegielski built 6 more prototype cars: 2 couchettes 134Ab, 2 two-car units 136A, and 2 single-car units 139A.
In November 1992, H. Cegielski began serial deliveries of Z2 cars, starting with 9 couchettes 134Ab, and in December of the same year, H. Cegielski delivered the last couchette 134Ab and 6 two-car units 136A. Deliveries of the single-car units 136A continued throughout 1993, with a total of 36 units delivered that year. In April 1993, deliveries of the serial single-car units 139A began, and the deliveries were completed in June of the same year, with a total of 15 139A cars delivered. At the beginning of 1994, the last 2 two-car units 136A were delivered.

Second generation UIC-Z2 cars from H. Cegielski

In 1994, H. Cegielski factories produced a series of 8 single-car units 145A. These were the first air-conditioned cars in Poland, as well as the first air-conditioned cars produced in Poland. In May and June, 4 of these cars were delivered to the Polish State Railways. In 1994, the first air-conditioned two-car units in Poland were also produced – the 144A cars. Between June 1994 and March 1995, Polish State Railways received 23 of these cars. In March 1995, Polish State Railways received 2 more 144Aa cars, which differed from the 144A by replacing two 6-person compartments with a compartment for 2 people in wheelchairs and 3 people accompanying them. In the 144Aa cars, one of the restrooms was also enlarged so that people in wheelchairs could use it. In 1996, H. Cegielski delivered 10 more single-car units 145Ab to the Polish State Railways, which differed from the 145A cars by replacing 3 six-person compartments with 4-person business class compartments.

Presentations at exhibitions and participation in films

In 1994, at the Poznań International Fair, the 145A car was presented, and in 1996, the 145Ab car was showcased.
One of the 134Aa cars was used in an episode of the series .
In 2003, at the in Gdańsk and in 2004 at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin, the 306Ab car was presented. In 2011, the 134Ac car was displayed at Trako. At the 2017 Trako, PKP Intercity presented a 144A car modernized by FPS.

End of UIC-Z2 car production

Due to the positive reception of the 145Ab cars by the Polish State Railways, which featured business class compartments, it was decided to order 2 additional cars with this type of compartment. However, these cars were significantly different from the 145Ab, primarily because they were built to the Z1 standard. The main difference between Z2 and Z1 standards is that Z1 cars are designed for speeds up to 200 km/h.

Construction

Body

The bodies of Z2 wagons produced by H. Cegielski are entirely welded constructions, where the underframe and body assemblies are combined into a uniform, self-supporting structure.
Initially, Z2 wagons were equipped with two-part windows in aluminum frames, with the upper part being operable. Only in the toilets were tilt windows installed, while in the vestibules, fixed windows were used. Starting with the 144A wagons, the two-part windows were replaced by windows with a small, tilting upper section. On the compartment side, all windows were of the tilting type, while on the corridor side, most windows were fixed, with the remaining ones being tilting.

Bogies

During the design phase of the 134Aa wagons, it was planned to use 4ANhd and 4ANhd/2 bogies, which were structurally similar to the 4ANc bogies but equipped with disc brakes. Ultimately, the 4ANhd and 4ANhd/2 bogies were not approved for production, and the 134Aa wagons were fitted with 4ANc and 4ANc/9 bogies, produced by ZNTK Opole. Due to having 4ANc bogies, the 134Aa wagons were not approved for operation on Western European tracks, but only on tracks in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc.
In the preparations for the production of the 134Ab, 136A, and 139A wagons, it was planned to use the GP-200 bogies, produced in East Germany and Czechoslovakia. However, due to the changing political situation, it became possible to order MD523 bogies, made in West Germany. These bogies, produced at the ABB Henschel facilities in Siegen, allowed for travel speeds of up to 160 km/h. They featured monoblock wheels with disc brakes, and during operation, they were further equipped with track brakes. These bogies were later installed in the remaining Z2-standard wagons produced at the H. Cegielski plants.

Modernizations

134Ab

In the first half of 2007, 10 out of the 12 produced 134Ab wagons underwent modernization at the Newag facility in Nowy Sącz. During this modernization, both the interior and exterior of the wagons were changed. The wagons were equipped with air conditioning and closed-system toilets, and one set of entry doors was removed. Additionally, the traditional external holders for destination boards and wagon numbers were replaced with special closed pockets with glass. The wagons were also repainted in the PKP Intercity colors.
As part of the modernization of 150 wagons for the Przemyśl–Szczecin route, a consortium consisting of Pesa and Pesa Mińsk Mazowiecki modernized the remaining two 134Ab wagons. The agreement was signed on 14 August 2013. The scope of the repairs was similar to those carried out by Newag.

134Ac

In 2011, Newag modernized one of the two 134Aa couchettes to the 134Ac type. As part of the modernization, the couchette received new bogies – 70RSTb, air conditioning, closed-system toilets, and external electronic displays. The couchette was approved for operation at a speed of 200 km/h.
On 5 January 2016, PKP Intercity announced a tender for the modernization of the second 134Aa wagon. Similar to the previous modernization of the 134Aa wagon, this wagon was to be adapted to a speed of 200 km/h and receive, among other upgrades, air conditioning, closed-system toilets, and external electronic displays. No bids were submitted for the tender. In July 2016, PKP Intercity re-announced the tender, but again, no offers were submitted. A subsequent tender in 2018 also received no bids.

136A/171A

In 2005 and 2006, 24 136A wagons were modernized at H. Cegielski's facilities during periodic overhauls. As part of this modernization, the wagons were equipped with air conditioning, upgraded interiors, and an improved running gear system. The scope of modernization for the first 10 wagons was slightly smaller than for the next 14, which received bonded windows instead of aluminum-framed ones and new end doors, though still manually operated with handles.
Between October 2007 and October 2008, another 13 136A wagons underwent major modernizations during general overhauls. Compared to subtype IC2, these upgrades included new push-button-operated end doors, protective covers for equipment between the bogies, and electronic displays both inside and outside the wagon. During the same period, an additional modernization was carried out on 7 subtype IC1 wagons and 12 subtype IC2 wagons, equipping them with new push-button-operated end doors, protective covers for equipment between the bogies, and electronic displays inside and outside. These modernizations were designated IC5 and IC6, respectively.
By the end of 2008, after H. Cegielski completed the modernization of the 136A wagons, PKP Intercity had a total of 5 wagons with minor upgrades and 32 with extensive modernizations. Additionally, four 136A wagons had been converted into sleeping cars of type 306Ab a few years earlier, while three wagons remained unmodernized.
As part of the modernization of 150 wagons for the Przemyśl–Szczecin route, a consortium consisting of Pesa and Pesa Mińsk Mazowiecki upgraded 8 136A wagons. The contract was signed on 14 August 2013. The refurbishment included the installation of air conditioning, new closed-system toilet cabins, new push-button-operated end doors, electrical outlets at every seat, electronic displays inside and outside, compartment control panels with electronic screens, mobile signal boosters, and protective covers for equipment between the bogies. After modernization, these wagons were designated as type 171A.

139A

Between March 2005 and June 2006, 12 139A wagons were modernized at during periodic overhauls. The modernization included the installation of air conditioning, non-opening windows in aluminum frames, closed-system toilets, and new PKP Intercity livery. Between November 2006 and May 2007, another 3 wagons were modernized, with the scope expanded to include new interiors, electrical outlets in compartments, new push-button-operated end doors, and bonded windows instead of framed ones.
From 2007 to 2008, during major overhauls, all 17 139A wagons were modernized. All wagons were equipped with protective covers for equipment between the bogies and electronic displays both inside and outside. Additionally, 14 wagons that hadn't received interior modernizations before were fitted with new interiors, complete with electrical outlets, while 2 wagons without air conditioning were retrofitted with it.