They will rebuild the railway line and eliminate popular parking lots

As part of the modernization of the railway line between Wawer and Otwock, railway workers will eliminate parking lots at railway stations. In total, there are over 550 free parking spaces, which allow you to leave your car close to the stop and continue your train journey.

In October, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe announced a tender for the reconstruction of the Otwock line, announced for many years. On the section from Wawer to Otwock, three tunnels, a viaduct and the most important point of the investment – two additional tracks – will be built. The whole is part of the modernization of railway line number 7 from Warsaw to Lublin, the aim of which is to increase the number of train passengers on this route.

Parking lots to be closed down

In close proximity to the characteristic, winged and historic railway station shelters along the Otwock line, there are several very popular parking lots.

The largest number of cars (according to PKP PLK calculations – 165) can fit in two parking lots at PKP Miedzeszyn. Another approximately 150 places are located at the station in Józefów. A total of 150 cars are parked in the parking lots in Michalin and Międzylesie, and there are also over 100 parking spaces in two parking lots at PKP Radość. In total, there are approximately 565 free parking spaces on the section planned for reconstruction.

The Otwock line before reconstruction

“Temporary parking lots”, as representatives of Polskie Linie Kolejowe describe them, “in connection with the modernization of the railway line between Wawer and Otwock will be closed – in their place, two additional tracks will be built, which will allow separating the traffic of suburban and long-distance trains” – we read in the message received from PLK.

Railway workers also announce the construction of a new parking lot at PKP Świder, i.e. in a place where there are no designated parking spaces. “The parking lot will operate as part of the park and ride (P+R) system. This will solve the eternal problem of parking cars in the road lanes of neighboring streets,” wrote Jarosław Margielski, mayor of Otwock, on social media. As the local government official said in the post, the new parking lot is the result of several years of negotiations with the railway company, which led to changes in the project, which initially did not include a parking lot in this place.

Three years of difficulties

The reconstruction of the Otwock line on the section from Anin to Otwock will cost PLN 1.8 billion. The contract is to be signed in 2025, and the works will last until 2028, which, considering the scope of work, seems to be a very high deadline.

In addition to the construction of two additional tracks, four railway crossings will be closed and tunnels will be built instead: in Radość, at ul. Water Maiden; in Falenica on ul. Walcownicza – Bystrzycka; in Józefów at ul. Cichej – Matejki and the viaduct on the border of Warsaw and Józefów at ul. Verbena – Bruckner.

“We will rebuild eight stops, including in Anin, Międzylesie, Radość, Miedzeszyn, Michalin, Świder and Józefów, as well as the station in Falenica. A modern information system for passengers will be installed at each of them. We are also planning 20 new underground passages, including six of them in locations designated together with local governments and reconstruction of the existing crossing at the station in Falenica. We will rebuild bridges on the Świder River and build new ones for comfort residents, acoustic screens covered with greenery will appear along the tracks,” PKP PLK announced in a press release.

In Falenica, the ramp from which on August 20, 1942, the Germans deported 6.5 thousand Jewish inhabitants to the extermination camp in Treblinka will be moved to the eastern side of the station. This year, the facility was entered into the register of monuments of the Masovian Voivodeship.