BMW-designed metro system coming to Warsaw

A set of new metro trains partially designed by BMW are to go into service in Warsaw.

Siemens confirmed February 2 that its new Inspiro trains, a project of BMW Group DesignworksUSA, will begin rolling out to the Polish city next year as part of a revamp of transport systems to cater for an increasing number of passengers.

A total of 35 of the units will be installed on both Line 1 and the new east-to-west Line 2, which is currently under construction and expected to be complete in 2013.

BMW, which began working on the project last year, says that the new trains are designed to make cities more competitive, pointing out that with the rapid urbanization of more areas, "towns and cities will secure advantages through the quality of their transportation systems."

Thus, the new Inspiro trains offer some unique features, such as a tree-like handrail with "branches" to hold onto, which changes color to change the interior of the carriage depending on daylight conditions - cold light in the morning and warm red light in the evening, reflecting the day underground.

BMW also says the the new door-light graphics, which provide passengers with information on the remaining boarding time, improves the flow of people getting on and off the train, reducing the amount of time that trains must spend in stations.

It is hoped that the new trains, which can run at up to 90 km/h, will ease the current congestion on Warsaw's subway system, which saw ridership triple between 1998 and 2008 to over 126 million passengers a year.

Other projects - automakers that lend their names to more than cars

- Honda, currently developing a private jet
- Saab, manufactures military aircraft
- Mercedes-Benz/Daimler, produces buses
- Mitsubishi, has divisions working on shipbuilding, trains and military vehicles
- Lamborghini, a name which is also used on tractors
- Hyundai, also runs the world's biggest shipbuilder and makes elevators