Construction work at the station is gaining momentum. The imposing structure of the new platform hall can already be seen. At the same time, preparations are underway to rebuild Warsaw's most neglected station - the bus part of Warsaw West. PKP PLK authorities, meanwhile, are announcing the start of rebuilding Warsaw East.
impressive pace
photo by Martyn Jandula - PKP PLK
Construction work on the rebuilding of Warszawa Zachodnia has been underway for a year. They pose quite a challenge for the contractor, Budimex. Uninterrupted throughout this time is the traffic of long-distance regional and agglomeration trains. About 700 trains are used by travelers per day. The organization of the timetable is created with detailed arrangements between the railroad manager, carriers and the contractor. Timetable adjustments are used to coordinate the work.
large scale
Photo: DWAA
The station project under construction was developed by DWAA Architects. The facility will be a multi-level integrated transportation hub, with a fully roofed platform system and a modern office and technology building serving as a back office for the Warsaw cross-city line. The station's canopy will reach an area of 35,000 sqm, - 200 meters long and 150 meters wide (five soccer fields). The structure spanning 11 meters above travelers will cover eight platforms. The scale of the construction is shown by the more than two dozen structures already installed. The contractor will use special transport to bring and set a total of 60 poles and dozens of structural elements. The project may resemble the Wien Hauptbahnhof (designed by Theo Holtz, Atelier Albert Wimmer, Ernst Hoffmann) completed in 2014.
footbridge and tunnels
Photo: DWAA
The new platform hall will be crossed by a pedestrian and bicycle footbridge connecting Wola and Ochota, whose construction is almost complete. Next to the platforms - parallel to the construction of the canopy and footbridge, track work is being carried out. A tunnel and an underpass are being built to a depth of 26 meters. The excavation for the construction of the new underground facility will be about 50,000 m3. The new underpass will have the necessary points for serving travelers. The structure of the streetcar tunnel will be prepared .
The squalid city gate
photo: Wikimedia Commons
In as deplorable a condition as the railroad station before the reconstruction is the nearby bus station. Warsaw's largest bus station is all about neglected architecture, dreary underpasses and degraded space around it. At the end of August, PKS Polonus announced the selection of EMA Studio as the contractor for the architectural and functional concept and obtaining legally binding administrative decisions for the construction of a station and hotel building with a commercial function. However, this is only the first step to changes at the site.
further investments await
photo by Kurylowicz & Associates
Work is expected to start on the third of Warsaw's largest stations - the eastern one -in 2023. PKP PLK is in the final stages of developing design documentation for the entire cross-city line. A tender for the modernization of Warsaw Eastern is expected to start in the second half of next year. Work is expected to begin simultaneously with the handover of the completed project on Warsaw West. The concept, prepared by the Kuryłowicz & Associates studio, envisions the construction of a hall covering all platforms. The station's underground system will also be rebuilt, which includes the widening of passageways.
