Modertrans Poznań is a subsidiary of the (MPK Poznań), specializing in the production, modernization, design, regeneration, and servicing of rail vehicles and buses. It was established on 31 December 2005 through the merger of the Bus Repair Plant in Biskupice and the Tram Repair Department of MPK Poznań. The shareholders of the company are MPK Poznań (holding 75.92% of the shares) and the Bus Repair Plant (holding 24.08% of the shares), which is owned by the city of Poznań.
History
In 1988, the Bus Repair Plant was established within MPK Poznań's structure, and in 1998, Bus Repair Plant in Biskupice was founded, which carried out major repairs of buses from Poznań and other cities.
On 31 December 2005, the Bus Repair Plant in Biskupice and the Tram Repair Department of MPK Poznań merged to form Modertrans Poznań. The company's initial share capital was 18,813,000 PLN, divided into shares, which were taken over by the Bus Repair Plant (24.1%) and MPK Poznań (75.9%). On 1 January 2006, 134 employees from MPK and 75 from the Bus Repair Plant were transferred to the new company. The first CEO was .
In 2006, the company delivered 2 Moderus Alfa HF 02 DK wagons and 22 Moderus Alfa HF 01 wagons to Poznań's MPK.
In March 2007, the company implemented a new logo, and in July 2007, it obtained an operating permit for the MT-01H bogie. From July to August 2007, a training tram Moderus Alfa HF 03L was delivered to MPK Poznań. At the beginning of October 2007, Poznań's carrier received two historical 105N-194+193 wagons, which were restored to their original appearance and equipment, and the manufacturer won the main Ernest Malinowski Award for the most interesting product and technical innovation in railways at the . From November to December 2007, 16 MT-01H bogies were delivered for Protram 205 WrAs trams operated by . In December 2007, the delivery of Moderus Alfa trams for Tramwaje Śląskie began.
In early 2008, the company entered the final production phase of 4 Moderus Alfa HF 04 AC trams for MPK Poznań, which started to be delivered to the carrier in August of that year. In August 2008, the construction of a warehouse in the Biskupice branch began, and in September 2008, Poznań's MPK received the first Alfa HF 07 models. From 23 to 26 September 2008, the company's first presentation at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin took place.
In April 2009, the construction of a new production hall and the expansion and modernization of the office-logistics building in the Biskupice branch began. At the end of this month, the first tram of type N8C was delivered to , and the first switch on the technological tracks in the Biskupice branch was commissioned. In October 2009, Modertrans participated in the Trako Fair for the second time.
In May 2010, the factory delivered its 100th tram, a Moderus Beta MF 01 for Gdańsk. On 1 May 2010, the started operating 3 Moderino trains produced by Modertrans.
In 2012, the company presented its booth at the premier edition of the Local and Regional Public Transport Station Fair, and in 2013 it participated in the Trako Fair for the third time.
In mid-November 2013, the company completed the delivery of Moderus Alfa HF 11 AC wagons for Tramwaje Śląskie ahead of schedule, and in early January 2014, the operation of two of the three ordered MF 13 trams began in Elbląg.
On 11 March 2014 and 4 September 2014, Tramwaje Szczecińskie ordered one Moderus Beta wagon for self-assembly, which were delivered in 2014. The second tram was completed on 23 October 2014, and was the 200th vehicle produced by Modertrans.
At the beginning of November 2014, Modertrans presented the project assumptions for a new low-floor tram developed jointly with Poznań University of Technology. It was assumed that the vehicle would be completed by 2016, with nearly half of the construction funded by the National Centre for Research and Development. On 18 November 2016, the Gamma model was presented.
In June 2017, Modertrans signed its first contract for the delivery of single-section partially low-floor trams. Three such vehicles were ordered by Elbląg.
On 16 November 2020, Andrzej Bręczewski, the founder and CEO of the company, died.
In April 2021, Modertrans won a tender for the post-accident repair of EZT EN76-035 for Greater Poland Railways, thus entering the railway vehicle repair market. On 29 May 2021, Modertrans presented a new prototype single-section, fully low-floor tram – Moderus Gamma LF 05 AC, the first fully low-floor single-section tram produced in Poland. In December 2021, MPK Poznań announced a tender for consulting on the sale of shares in Modertrans.
Operation
Summary of manufactured, upgraded or refurbished vehicles VehicleNumber of unitsProduction yearsCustomerSourcesHigh-floor tramsModerus Alfa HF 01222006Moderus Alfa HF 02 DK22006MPK PoznańModerus Alfa HF 03 L22007MPK PoznańModerus Alfa HF 04 AC42008MPK PoznańModerus Alfa HF 0522007Tramwaje ŚląskieModerus Alfa HF 07362008–2010MPK PoznańModerus Alfa HF 0922008Tramwaje SzczecińskieModerus Alfa HF 10 AC122011–2013Tramwaje SzczecińskieModerus Alfa HF 11 AC752012–2014Tramwaje ŚląskiePartially low-floor tramsN8C – MF 01462009–2012Moderus Beta MF 02 AC242011–2015MPK PoznańRT6 – MF 06 AC162011–2021MPK PoznańModerus Beta MF 09 AC5from 2017Tramwaje Elbląskie114Na – MF 1222012–2017ZKM GdańskM8C – MF 1322013Tramwaje ElbląskieM8C – MF 14 AC BD12015Tramwaje ElbląskieModerus Beta MF 15 AC22014Tramwaje SzczecińskieModerus Beta MF 16 AC BD122015Tramwaje ŚląskieN8C – MF 18162015ZKM GdańskModerus Beta MF 19 AC222015–2017Moderus Beta MF 20 AC202016–2017MPK PoznańModerus Beta MF 22 AC BD102016–2017MPK PoznańModerus Beta MF 24 AC402017–2019MPK WrocławModerus Beta MF 29 AC BD62020–2023Tramwaje SzczecińskieModerus Beta MF 10 AC132018–2020Tramwaje ŚląskieModerus Beta MF 11 AC BD22018–2020Tramwaje ŚląskieLow-floor tramsModerus Gamma LF 01 AC12016prototypeModerus Gamma LF 02 AC302017–2019MPK PoznańModerus Gamma LF 03 AC BD202017–2019MPK PoznańModerus Gamma LF 05 AC12021prototypeModerus Gamma LF 06 AC302020–2023Moderus Gamma LF 07 AC29 of 46from 2020MPK WrocławModerus Gamma LF 12 AC BD122025-2026Tramwaje SzczecińskieHistoric and vintage trams105N22007MPK Poznań12008MPK Poznań12013–2015MPK Poznań12016–2018MPK PoznańOther vehiclesModerino32010
Cooperation with education and science Modertrans received funding for the following projects: Project nameProject goalProject costFundingImplementation periodSourcesInnovative city tramGamma tram14.115 million PLN5.635 million PLN1 November 2013 – 31 October 2016MFB – family of medium-floor tram bogiesTram bogies8.458 million PLN4.106 million PLN1 April 2014 – 31 March 2017
Financial results In its first year of operation, Modertrans incurred a loss of over 1 million PLN. Between 2007 and 2009, the company recorded profits below 1 million PLN, but starting in 2010, these profits exceeded 1 million PLN and grew year by year. In 2015, they reached a record value of over 13 million PLN.
Awards and recognitions
2007 – Ernest Malinowski Award for the most interesting product and technical innovation in railways for the MT-01H drive bogie at the Trako Fair. 2008 – 7th Place in the medium-sized companies category in the Ranking of the Most Innovative Companies in Poland, Kamerton Innowacyjności 2008. 2009 – distinction in the Competition for the title of Poznań Entrepreneurial Leader during the final gala at the Session Hall of the County Office in Poznań. 2011 – distinction for the initiative "Investments in the Economic Development of the Region and its Inhabitants" in the As Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu plebiscite. 2012 – distinction in the competition for the title of Poznań Entrepreneurial Leader in the medium-sized entrepreneur category during the final gala at the Poznań Stadium. 2013 – distinction in the Competition of the Chamber of Commerce for Urban Communication for the Professor Jan Podoski Award in the parts, components, and equipment category for the MT-08T 1435 technical bogie for Siemens Combino trams at the Trako Fair. 2016 – distinction in the Poznań Entrepreneurial Leader competition in the medium-sized entrepreneur category. 2017 – award in the Professor Jan Podoski Award competition in the rail rolling stock category for the Moderus Gamma LF 01 AC tram at the Trako Fair.
References