A fleet of new trains  - including ‘tree branch-like handrails’ - designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, is due to be installed in Warsaw's underground network.

The cutting edge new rail-cars, co-designed by Siemens, come with many novel features, and it is hoped that the models will ease the increasing levels of congestion in the Polish capital.

The contract for the 35 trains will cost 1.69 billion zl (430 million euros).

The so-called Inspiro trains, which can travel at up to 90 km/hr, went into design last year, and will be put into action on both Line 1 and the currently incomplete east-west line due to be opened in 2013.

Intriguing features include a tree-like handrail, from which passengers can cling on to “branches”.
These “light-trees” will be synchronised with the time of day. During the daylight hours, the carriages will be filled with a relatively stark light, whilst after dusk a more reddish hue will be activated.

Meanwhile, glowing graphics on the doors will signal how much time customers have to board or disembark from the train. Wider doors will allow for more ease of access.