Warsaw. 30 years of subway in the capital. Report from the opening of the first stations

30 years ago, the first metro episode in Warsaw was opened. During the ceremony, the ribbon at the Wilanowska station was cut by the then president of the capital Marcin Święcicki. As the politician recalls today, it was a “huge event” that gathered officials of all parties. The metro was dedicated to Primate Józef Glemp. The first trains set off on the road exactly a decade after starting construction.

The Warsaw metro was officially opened on April 7, 1995. That day, the first two trains set off from the Wilanowska station. The event took place almost 10 years after the construction of the underground queue. This was initiated on April 15, 1985.

The metro line was then 11 kilometers long and 11 stations – from Kabat to the Polytechnic. At that time, trains counted three wagons – they were Russian compositions from the 81 series.

Great Feta and Soviet wagons

– The opening was at the Wilanowska station. Prime Minister Józef Oleksy, former Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, MPs and Warsaw councilors from all clubs, came, of course also metro builders. Primate Józef Glemp, who dedicated in an underground queue, as well as Professor Jan Podoski, who before the war was an advocate of the construction of the metro – says Marcin Święcicki, then president of Warsaw.

There were also speeches, ribbon cut, dedication and subway ride – wagons from the Soviet Union – to the Politechnika station.

Ceremonial opening of the first section of the metro

– I also remember that there was a matter of inviting General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Left councilors reminded that he decided to build a metro in Warsaw and should be invited. Well, I invited General Jaruzelski, sent him a letter – says the former city steward.

The next day, the general replied very elegantly, “that he was very happy, that his decision was realized, that he hopes that the subway would serve Warsaw well, but he did not want to confuse his person and sends his most sincere wishes, but he will not come.”

– I have this letter – I kept it – emphasizes Święcicki.

End of horror with access from Ursynów

For the first three days, subway travel was free. – And it immediately enjoyed amazing interest – says Święcicki.

– I remember how to communicate with Ursynów, which was a huge bedroom of Warsaw. Taboo buses that drove Sobieski, Aleje Ujazdowskie and Puławska. One bus after the other, mercilessly smelling, incorrectly clogged. And when the metro started, most of these buses disappeared and were moved to other lines. And there was no more horror with access to the city center – he says.

He emphasizes that before the subway went, there was some nerves. For example, the issue of receipt of work.

– For the proposal of my then deputy Jerzy Lejek, who is now the directors of the Warsaw metro, we decided on the city board that three committees must collect them. One is, of course, a construction, the other is a railway and third mining, because partly the robots were carried out in a deep excavation by mining teams from Katowice – he explains, adding that in Warsaw they even celebrated Barbórka, to which he was invited.

In the end, these three inspections received the work and the opening date and receipt could be determined.

– One more thing. On the board, the metro regulations had to be approved. I had one attention whether bikes could be transported. What I heard that they did not anticipate it. I said that: enter it to the regulations. And so it has already remained – emphasizes the former president of the city.

Construction of the first section of the metro in Warsaw

“Restored Warsaw Metropolitarian”

Currently, travelers can use 39 metro stations, the total length of routes is almost 40 kilometers, and travelers carry modern wagons from the Inspiro series, Alstom and Skoda Varsovia. Conceptual work is underway on the III and IV metro line.

– I am very happy with the development of the metro in Warsaw. Someone once said that the metro restored Warsaw a metropolitan character. We still have this meter less than other metropolises, but it is still fantastic – says Święcicki.

He emphasizes that the stations are beautiful. – When they are compared with stations or in London, in Paris, in Washington or New York, ours are simply beautiful. It is very nice to ride a subway around Warsaw – he assures.

Attractions on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the subway

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of launching courses on the M1 line, the Warsaw Metro prepared several attractions for the inhabitants of Warsaw.

On Monday, from the early morning hours at the Świętokrzyska station in the area of ​​the Multimedia Gallery, passengers will be greeted with a sweet gift with the metro logo. On three walls of the gallery, the so -called time axis will be displayed with the history of the Warsaw metro in a nutshell.

In turn, at 15 o'clock at the mezzanine of the Wilanowska station (southern head, eastern wall), the jubilee mosaic will be solemnly unveiled.

In the mezzanine part of Galeria Wilanowska – as part of the Academy of Underground Arts – an exhibition will be presented on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of launching passenger transport of the subway in Warsaw.

The history of the underground railway will also be presented at the fences of the Kabaty Technical and Station.

On this day, on the monitors on trains and metro stations, as well as on selected digital screens in Śródmieście, the Jubilee logo of the Warsaw metro will be displayed.