Katowice to get a virtually new station

The nearly new railway station planned for Katowice

Last Thursday, PKP Group chairman, Andrzej Wach, and Minister of Transport, Cezary Garbarczyk, signed off an agreement with Spanish developer Nienver to invest  240 million euro in the railway station in Katowice.

The resulting complex will include an underground car park for 1,200 cars, a major shopping arcade and office space.

Since the result will be a virtually new station we thought we should present you with a virtual interview. We did not actually talk to Mr Wach or Mr Garbarczyk, (BTWT seems to have been accidentally dropped off the invitation list) but having checked our copy against the PKP press release there can be little doubt that this is what they would have said.

D. “Mr Minister, at a time of economic downturn, may I congratulate you on this good news?”

CG. “Modernisation of Poland’s major railway stations is a key part of our strategic plan for the future of the railways. For the first time in nearly two decades the government has earmarked funds for this purpose. However, I am pleased to say that the investment in Katowice is being funded from private sources.”

“This is the first project prepared in partnership with a private partner. It’s a great day… It is the first project of this magnitude in the railway sector and I trust that it will have many imitators. We are hoping to develop a similar scheme to modernize Warsaw West station.”

AW. “This is the first project of this type and on this scale in Poland. Other major stations which will have to be modernised include Cracow, Wroclaw, Gdynia, Poznan and Warsaw.”

D. “I was disappointed not to read anything about facilities for bicycles although the improved space for pedestrians is very welcome. In combining quality shopping space and passenger services you are following in the footsteps of Milan, are you not?”

AW. “Actually we will be keeping passengers and shoppers well apart.”

D. “Er yes. I see, more Warszawa Centralna and Zlote Tarasy than Stazione Centrale di Milano.”

CG. “In 2014 we will be commencing the complete rebuilding of Warsaw Central. I think that it is more than likely that this will go ahead as a PPP deal as well.”

D. “Thank you minister. Now Mr Chairman, are you pleased that this concrete monstrosity in the ‘Socialist Brutalist’ style is being swept away and replaced by something modern light and airy which reflects the hopes and aspirations of the new Poland.”

AW. “Actually we made it a condition that the ‘socialist brutalist’ – as you so quaintly put it – elements remain. Many architects consider them icons of the period.”

D. “Quite so Mr Chairman, when I said ‘Socialist Brutalist’ I was of course using the words in their positive sense. English is a highly contextual language which can give rise to silly misunderstandings when talking to foreigners. So the hard concrete elements are being retained and will be in contrast to the new platform awnings and refurbished tunnel interiors.”

AW. “Actually, we are leaving those exactly as they are.”

CG. “In fact, the law prevents us from using private funds in that way.”

D. “Mr Minister, Mr Chairman, thank you for talking to BTWT.”

A 70s icon – the existing station in Katowice

Lady at a tram stop

Lady at a tram stop in Amsterdam. Photo Alan Colville.

(Click photo to see more of Alan Colville’s pictures.)

On Saturday, I saw a lady waiting in a tram stop. She was alone, preferring to wait in quiet meditation rather than to be part of the scrum waiting at the bus stop. Unlike the lady in the picture above she did not look anxiously over her shoulder to see if a tram was on the way. She knew that if she waited long enough the tram would come.

Rail transport – be it a city’s tram system or a nation’s railway network – provides our information-overloaded minds with a reference grid, a stable element in a confused world. It was railways that first unified Britain’s time keeping. In November 1840, the Great Western Railway ordered that London time should be used in all its timetables, and at all its stations. On 2nd August 1880 the rest of the country followed suit.

Railway networks also provide a convenient navigational grid. Just like migrating birds following rivers, I still refer to my mental map of  London’s canals and railways when crossing the great city and delight in exploring new links such as the Croydon Tramlink and Docklands Light Railway.

No wonder then that so many of Britain’s heritage railways started with ambitious plans to restore what had been taken away – to operate a transport service for the local community. Sadly most were forced to cut down their ambitions when faced with mounting obstacles put in their way by BR and the mandarins at Marsham Street.

The importance of railways as a uniting force is understood by governments. Hitler planned the Reichsspurbahn – a new broad gauge network to help him retain a grip on Großdeutschland the greater Germany that was supposed to arise after he won WW II. The opposite is also the case. The current disillusionment with Westminster-style democracy has its origins in the Beeching Axe – the wholesale dismemberment of Britain’s railway network which took place without any reference to Parliament. Poland’s politicians planning further rail cuts please take note.

Is it any coincidence then that the UK Prime Minister has chosen to announce an 8-year railway electrification programme at a time when his popularity is in meltdown? Sceptics will ask why the benefits of electrification were ignored during the last 12 years when the Labour party were in power.

And the lady at the tram stop? Well she’s probably still there. The trams were suspended and replaced by buses some two weeks ago when a programme of track repairs commenced.

(This post is also being posted on Tunnel Vision.)

Dyspozytor