PKP PLK announced a tender for the construction of a western passage under the tracks at the Warszawa Gdańska station. This is to solve the problem of crowds that passengers have been facing for many months. The contractor will also be responsible for extending the additional platform currently under construction.
That the railway workers have a plan for unloading crowds at the Warszawa Gdańska station we reported in July. However, the problem appeared much earlier. Due to the ongoing reconstruction of the Western Railway Station, a large number of trains were directed there – not only suburban, but also long-distance trains. PKP PLK announced the construction of platform five from the Żoliborz side. It is to be completed by the end of 2023. But that’s not the end. In July, the project of a second underground passage to the platforms was also announced. The portal transport-publiczny.pl has just announced that a tender for this investment has already been announced.
The western passage under the tracks – what should it look like?
As indicated, the passage will be 9.5 meters wide and 3.5 meters high. Passengers will get to platforms 2, 3 and 4. There are fixed stairs on the western side and escalators on the eastern side. There will also be elevators. Another convenience will be the exit from the station towards Żoliborz – on the northern side of Indrzejczyka Street. Passengers will get there by stairs and elevators. The railway workers are also planning a connector to the existing tunnel, at the entrance to the station building.
The contractor will also have to build a new roof over platforms 2, 3, 4 and 5. He will also extend the currently constructed platform number 5 from 220 to 300 meters.
The deadline for placing orders is November 7. The contractor will have 21 months to complete the project.
Passengers squeeze on their way to the platform
As previously reported by the president of PKP PLK, Ireneusz Merchel, the Warszawa Gdańska station “is an example of an ineffectively modernized station in 2011–2016.” In his opinion, railway workers took ad hoc measures: they built escalators and footbridges over the tracks. But that didn’t change anything. Passengers have been complaining about the crowded station for many months, especially when trains arrive from both sides of the platform. Then it takes even a few minutes to get to the tunnel.
Therefore, the president of PKP PLK declared that a new platform will be built by the end of 2023, which will be extended as part of the new investment.
The president of PKP PLK also talked about the project of a second underground passage to the platforms (this was in the original plan, which was shortened for cost-saving reasons). Railway workers want to open them by April 2025. Work is scheduled to begin then cross-town line. The president of PKP PLK also announced an increase in the number of trains at the Warszawa Gdańska station.
Merchel also estimated that the modernization of the Western Station would be completed in mid-2024. Although earlier there was talk of autumn 2023.
transport-publiczny.pl, tvnwarszawa.pl
Main photo source: Artur Węgrzynowicz, tvnarszawa.pl