In the mid-1960s, the electric multiple units (EMUs) in operation in Poland, which had been designed based on pre-World War II concepts, were becoming increasingly outdated compared to foreign vehicles.

[8] The electrical components were initially led by Stefan Wróblewski, followed by Alojzy Kiełkiewicz, who collaborated with Eugeniusz Małecki, Zbigniew Durzyński, and Aleksander Płatkiewicz.

To meet these requirements, the power and gear ratio (77:20)[11] of the unit were adjusted,[2] and a new motor with dynamic braking capability was designed.

[4] These prototypes were tested at the Railway Scientific and Technical Centre under the supervision of Bogdan Paszkowski[8][13] and were then assigned to the Tricity's Szybka Kolej Miejska to replace outdated rolling stock after the traction voltage was increased from 800 to 3,000 V DC.

[15] Starting in 1978, the units were produced in a modified version known as 3WEa, which featured a compartmentless interior styled similarly to metro trains.

Additionally, the inadequate repair and maintenance infrastructure of Polish State Railways, combined with the insufficient power supply network and the higher energy consumption of the EW58 units compared to the EN57 series, led to the abandonment of further production.

[22] The cars were connected by a short coupling (without a head, non-detachable under operational conditions) and a passenger walkway protected and sealed by rubber rollers.

The construction was self-supporting,[24] entirely steel, and welded, meeting all the strength requirements specified in UIC VE567 and the relevant Organisation for Co‑operation between Railways regulations.

[4] Over time, however, the doors were removed, and the partition walls were modified into windbreaks lowered to the upper edges of the seats,[25] thus creating the 3WEa units.

The use of 8 traction motors significantly improved the vehicle's acceleration, which was particularly important in urban areas with short distances between stops,[1] but at the same time, it greatly increased the energy consumption of the unit.

[28] They were initially stationed at the Chylonia locomotive depot[18] and maintained at a maintenance and repair facility[29] that was not equipped to service three-car units.

[30] The first three EW58 units, produced and delivered to Tricity between 1974 and 1975,[31] were tested on the route from Gdynia to Wejherowo and in Gdańsk on the line to Nowy Port, where the voltage had been changed from 800 to 3,000 V DC on 1 October 1973.

[14] As additional units of this series were delivered, they were directed to the Gdańsk–Wejherowo line, which, due to increasing passenger traffic, required trains composed of three sets.

On the less busy route to Nowy Port, single units were sufficient, so the three prototypes not adapted for multiple-unit operation were sent to this line.

[29] The limited number of EW58 sets compared to the rest of the rolling stock serving the Szybka Kolej Miejska system did not allow for full utilization of their technical capabilities.

[2] The EW58 EMUs leaving the assembly halls were painted orange with a horizontal cream stripe running along the entire body.

[28] On 1 August 1982, at the Chylonia locomotive depot, EW58-023, inadequately secured after repairs, was accidentally started and collided at a speed of 70 km/h with unit EW58-027, which then ran into EN57-1130+1108.

[34] In December 1988, the rolling stock serving the Szybka Kolej Miejska, including 23 EW58 units, was transferred to the newly opened Gdynia Cisowa electric locomotive depot.

[34] As of 1 December 1999, the newly established Polish State Railways' Szybka Kolej Miejska in Tricity[27] had 8 EW58 units numbered 005, 006, 011, 012, 016, 019, 024, and 028.

[42] The remaining 5 units were temporarily reinstated to service to handle football matches and transport Arka Gdynia fans from Redłowo.

Initially, Tricity railway workers called them UFO[17] because they were unreliable, with unpredictable malfunctions and uncertain behavior on the tracks.

[46] Due to the lack of interest in the previous sale,[34] in early November 2016, Szybka Kolej Miejska reissued a tender to sell the 6 units, this time as scrap metal.

[50] On July 11, the complete cab of the EW58-019sa car was integrated into the wall of the service hall at the Gdynia Cisowa locomotive depot, becoming a technical monument.