Pesa Elf (an abbreviation of Electric Low Floor) is a family of electric multiple unit trains developed by Polish rolling-stock manufacturer Pesa SA. Elf feature a low floor design, intended for railway stations with platforms below , improving accessibility and reducing boarding times. The trains are designed for regional, commuter, and long distance services, with different variants tailored to their intended use. There are three classes of Elf trains; Elf I, Elf II, Elf.eu and the Elf III—used as a trade name for diesel multiple units of Pesa (such as the Pesa Link) targeting markets outside of Poland.
Each class includes several variants configured for different operators and service patterns. For example, the Elf I 27WE units which operate on Rapid Urban Railway (Warsaw) feature a longitudinal seating layout to maximise standing capacity for commuter services.
As of 2026, around 189 Pesa Elf trains operate across Europe, with an additional 88 units currently under construction. Elf.eu trains, which use a multi-voltage system, are in service outside of Poland, currently in the Czech Republic (RegioJet) and in Romania (CFR Călători).
History
Elf I Following a major restructuring in 1998, Pesa initially (from 2001) focused on the production of diesel railbuses and DMUs, but in 2004 it undertook the construction of the first EMUs for the Warsaw Commuter Railway: Pesa Mazovia. Despite plans to purchase 10 units for the operator, production was ultimately cancelled after the construction of 1 unit. Two more EMUs were designed and built: the Pesa Acatus in 2006 and Pesa Bydgostia also in 2006 until 2008. The production of both trains were cancelled after the first batch, due to the high-level () floor design which hindered the rapid alighting of passengers and passengers who used bicycles, strollers, or wheelchairs for their journey. As most railway stations in Poland had low-level platforms, the only exceptions at the time were usually railway stations in Warsaw and Gdańsk.
Pesa began its design of the Electric Low Floor (Elf), together with the Acatus II. Both classes were designed with low-level boarding, at a height between for the Acatus II, and for the Elf trains. The design process of the Elf trains involved a 110-person team of Pesa engineers, as well as subcontractor engineers and academics from Polish technical universities. The designs were inspired by foreign trains, the Bombardier Talent and Siemens Desiro.
Elf II New technical requirements for manufactured trains in Poland led to the discontinuing of Elf I units in 2016, with new Elf IIs being designed to meet the new requirements, which also differed from their predecessors, the Elf Is. Silesian Railways was the first operator whom ordered the new Elf IIs, in October of the same year, at a price of around 206 million Polish złoty, cheaper than Newag and Stadler's trains. The order consisted of one two-car unit, two three-car units, and 10 four-car units. In 2017, an additional order of six more trains came through, which consisted of one three-car unit, two four-car units, and three two-car units.
Elf.eu In 2019, Pesa designed the Elf.eu series, adapted to the requirements of train operators outside of Poland. Based on the Elf II series, Elf.eu are dual-voltage trains at 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC. The trains can also be configured from 2 to 5 cars. In April 2019, Pesa received 19 million Polish złoty in funding from the Poland National Centre for Research and Development (NCRD), for the development of the Elf.eu series as part of the "Fast Track" competition for large train manufacturers.
The first operator to order the Elf.eu series was the Czech operator RegioJet, which ordered dual-voltage, two-car units. The trains are longer units, with different bogies. The first units entered service on 14 August 2022.
Elf III Pesa Regio160, also known as Elf III (sometimes written as Elf 3.0) was designed as a low-level DMU. On 26 February 2021, a framework agreement was signed with Pesa, providing for the delivery of 160 DMUs for Czech Railways, with an initial order for 33 units. By November 2023, a total of 106 two-car units had been ordered. Construction of the first units began in 2023, designated as ČSD Class 847.
Exhibits
The Elf family was first showcased at InnoTrans (Berlin) on 21 September 2010. Pesa showcased a Silesian Railways Elf I EN76, numbered 001. The following year, in 2011, a Polregio (Holy Cross branch) Elf I EN96, numbered 002 was showcased at Trako (Gdańsk), between October 11 and 15. On 28 June 2012, during the presentation of the Pesa Link for České dráhy in Velim, Czech Republic, Pesa also showcased a Masovian Railways Elf I EN76, numbered 011. Between June 18 to 20 in 2013, a Greater Poland Railways Elf I EN76, numbered 035 was showcased at Czech Raildays (Ostrava). In the same year, from 24 to 27 September, a 3 car Elf I EN62, numbered 001 was presented at Trako (Gdańsk).
In September 2017, an Elf II 21WEa, numbered 002 was showcased at Trako (Gdańsk), followed by a 34WEa, numbered 003 at Czech Raildays (Ostrava) in June 2018. In September 2019, a Greater Poland Railways Elf II 48WE, numbered 004 was presented at Trako (Gdańsk).
Features
The Elf family is standard-gauge, designed as low-floor trains featuring open gangways and plug doors. The trains are designed for multi-transport use, such as regional, commuter, and long distance services. Depending on their intended use, units vary in terms of acceleration, number of cars, and number of doors. For example, Elfs built until 2013 comprised of 2, 3, 4, or 6 cars, whilst the number of doors ranged from 1 to 3 per side of every car. The top speed of most units is , however the top-tier version can operate at a top speed of , featuring 10 cars. The exterior profile and interiors were designed by Bartosz Piotrowski. Pesa also offers broad-gauge Elfs, however such trains have never been built.
Traction, bogies, coupling, and suspension In most units, only the front and rear (outer) bogies are powered, totalling to four traction motors for every train. Whilst the bogies in between carriages (Jacobs bogie) are unpowered, acting as trailer cars. This configuration is applicable for units of up to 5 cars. The Elf I 22WE and 22WEb trains operated by Silesian Railways are an exception to this, as all bogies are powered.
The bogies feature a two-stage suspension system: the primary suspension system consists of steel springs, while the secondary suspension system utilises pneumatic springs, equipped with emergency springs. Air springs (two per powered bogie and four per Jacobs bogie) support the car bodies. To provide additional vibration damping, hydraulic dampers are vertically alongside the coil and air springs, at the pivot yoke (lateral), and longitudinally on the sides of the bogies, acting as yaw dampers.
Trains use the scharfenberg coupling system, allowing for multi-unit operation of up to three units. However, due to the method used of the open gangway connection, units themselves can not be shortened or lengthened.
Body The body framework is constructed from corrosion-resistant steel, including the thick outer skin, which is also steel. The train's front and rear (outer) ends are made of composite materials. All passenger doors of the trains are equipped with automatically-retracting steps to assist boarding at platforms with a height distance from the train floor, typically lower than or taller than .
Interior The interior design, such as the colour scheme of trains varies depending on the operator, however all units feature the same basic design. All seats are arranged transversely, (facing towards the front or rear) either in a 2+1 or 2+2 layout. Trains feature an accessible bay for wheelchair users, and passengers with bicycles, and luggage racks above the seating. All trains, except the Elf Is operated by Rapid Urban Railway (Warsaw) are equipped toilets, which are also accessible. The driver's cab includes two seats, one for the driver and one for the assistant driver.
Operation CountryOperatorSeriesImageVariant of cars builtYear builtNotes / referencesLower Silesian RailwaysElf II48WEc545 (out of 55)2022–presentLesser Poland Railways22WEh442021Masovian RailwaysElf I22WEe4162011Silesian RailwaysElf I22WE48201122WEb41201127WEb662013Elf II34WEag242017–202021WEag352017–202022WEdg4122017–2020Greater Poland RailwaysElf I22WEa4222012–2014Elf II48WE510201948WEb552020–202148WEd542025PolregioElf I22WEc462014–2016Owned by Kuyavian–Pomeranian VoivodeshipElf II34WE24201821WEb352017–2018Owned by Subcarpathian Voivodeship22WEf422018Elf I34WE242011Owned by Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship21WE312012Owned by Warmian–Masurian VoivodeshipRapid Urban RailwayElf I27WE6132011
Poland
Silesian Railways
On 22 December 2009, the Silesian Voivodeship signed a contract with Pesa for the construction of eight 4 car Elf trains, followed by the contract for a ninth unit on 30 March 2011. Initially, the trains were intended to serve Polregio, however, with the establishment of Silesian Railways (KŚ) in 2010, the units were transferred to the operator. In early 2011, it emerged that the trains ordered were some 6.5 tonnes heavier than specified in the earlier contract. Consequently, Pesa removed equipment and altered features of the train: luggage racks were replaced with metal ones, seats were changed, and features such as additional sanders, larger water tanks, and glass breakers were removed.
The first two units were delivered in April 2011, initially stabled at two different depots in Katowice and Łazy until KŚ commenced passenger services on 1 October of the same year, when the new trains entered service initially on KŚ routes S1 (Częstochowa–Gliwice) and S6 (Częstochowa–Wisła Głębce).
On 10 September 2012, another contract was signed for the leasing of six 27WEb 6 car trains, with the option to purchase the trains at the end of the lease term. Initial technical inspection procedures by KŚ for the new trains began on 20 December, followed by further technical inspections (of the first two units) on 4 January 2013. Due to defects discovered during the procedures, the trains were not accepted by the operator. After four out of six of the units passed the technical inspections in late January 2013, they were delivered to Silesia on 1 February, with one of the units being showcased at Katowice the following day. The four units entered service on 4 February, with the remaining two units being delivered on 28 February, entering service on 8 March.