Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway

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Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway
The Gdańsk Jasień railway station
Overview
Statusoperational
OwnerPKP PLK and PKM
Line number248, 253, 234
LocaleTricity region
Termini
Stations11
Websitepkm-sa.pl
Service
Operator(s)Polregio
History
Opened1 September 2015 (2015-09-01)
Technical
Line length19.5 km (12.1 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification3 kV DC (since 2023)
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Train protection systemETCS level 2
Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway

Legend
km
 202  to Gdańsk Główny
0.000
 Gdańsk Wrzeszcz
 250  Szybka Kolej Miejska
 202  to Gdynia Główna
468 al. Grunwaldzka
2.193
 Gdańsk Strzyża
3.830
 Gdańsk Niedźwiednik
472 Słowackiego
5.282
 Gdańsk Brętowo
Migowska Struga
7.374
 Gdańsk Jasień
Potok Jasień
8.861
 Gdańsk Kiełpinek
Kiełpińska Struga
Tricity Ringroad
 234 
to Gdańsk Kokoszki (pl)
 
Strzyża
11.666
 Gdańsk Matarnia
12.801
Gdańsk Firoga (pl)
 
14.572
 Gdańsk Port Lotniczy
15.256
 Gdańsk Rębiechowo
 253  →  201 
 201  to Kościerzyna
18.246
 Gdańsk Osowa
PKM
 201 
n/a
 Gdynia Karwiny (pl)
n/a
 Gdynia Stadion (pl)
 202  to Gdańsk Główny
 250  Szybka Kolej Miejska
 201  to Gdynia Główna
km

The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (Polish: Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna; PKM) is a company that owns commuter rail line in the Tricity area, in northern Poland. Founded in 2010, it began hosting scheduled rail service on the reconstructed Gdańsk Wrzeszcz–Gdańsk Osowa railway on 1 September 2015.

History

[edit]

Origins and background

[edit]

The Gdańsk Wrzeszcz–Gdańsk Osowa railway, initially constructed from 1911 to 1914, at first connected the area of Kokoszki and Wrzeszcz. In 1945, during the Siege of Danzig, the line was intentionally destroyed by retreating German soldiers.[1] For much of its history thereafter, the area around the destroyed railway remained unserved by rail, and many of the line's remaining sections were taken apart.[2] In 1974, Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport opened, initially being served by city buses.[3]

Initial feasibility studies for rebuilding the destroyed railway, in a form wherein it linked the city's airport to the city proper, were carried out between 2005 and 2009, with the company known as the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway being founded on 1 June 2010.[4] The railway was initially planned to be rebuilt by UEFA Euro 2012.[3]

Construction

[edit]

Work on constructing the railway began on 3 January 2013 in Matarnia and Kokoszki, initially largely focused on clearing the way for the railway by demolishing buildings obstructing its likely route.[5] These demolitions were complete by 28 February.[6] On 7 March, the contractors responsible for constructing the railway were revealed, a consortium of the companies Budimex (pl) and Ferrovial, who promised the lowest price for the investment, equal to 716 million zł.[7]

On 7 May, a formal contract was signed between the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway and the consortium, encompassing the construction of a double-track railway from Gdańsk Wrzeszcz to Gdańsk Osowa, a single-track railway connecting the double-track line to the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway, 8 passenger stations, a technical and repair station, a traffic control centre, as well as 16 rail viaducts, 8 road viaducts, 5 overpasses, as well as several level crossings for people and animals and an ERTMS system.[8]

The line's construction was formally initiated on 1 July 2013.[9] Demolition works concluded on 18 August,[10] and the first tracks were being laid by 11 December.[11] The names of the stations located along the railway were finalized on 29 April 2014.[12] On 22 July, the railway's rolling stock was formally announced, being bought from Pesa, following a failed deal with Newag.[13] On 12 September, the tracks of the railway were first used, with a draisine moving along them near the Gdańsk Niedźwiednik station.[14] Load testing of the railway's viaducts began on 17 October 2014.[15]

From 20 to 24 April 2015, the line's first higher-speed tests were conducted, using Alstom Traxx locomotives loaned by Lotos Kolej.[16] On 3 July 2015, the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway company moved to new headquarters in Matarnia, by Gdańsk Matarnia station,[17] and was formally reviewed as safe for passenger service on 13 August.[18] The line was ceremonially opened on 31 August, with trains moving between the Gdańsk Strzyża and Gdańsk Port Lotniczy railway stations,[19] and passenger service began on 1 September.[20]

Later developments

[edit]
Gdańsk Firoga (pl) station, completed in 2022

The PKM was extended to Kartuzy on 1 October 2015.[21] On 29 December 2015, the Railway's owners began a public auction to determine who would execute the construction of two new stations in Gdynia;[22] the contract for this project was awarded to Ferrovial and Budimex, who had also been responsible for the construction of the rest of the main line, on 22 September 2016,[23] and the two stations, namely Gdynia Karwiny (pl) and Gdynia Stadion (pl), were opened on 8 December 2017.[24] On 30 May 2018, the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway received 62 million zł in European Union funding to electrify its main line and construct a new station, Gdańsk Firoga (pl).[25] The station opened on 11 December 2022.[26]

In May 2018, a letter of intent was signed in Kartuzy regarding the reconstruction of a railway link to Gdańsk via Stara Piła as part of the Nowa Wieś Wielka–Gdynia Port railway.[27] This project, colloquially named the Kartuzy bypass (Polish: bajpas kartuski), saw preparation work initiate in February 2019.[28] On 6 May 2019, an initial auction was held for the construction contract of the Kartuzy bypass,[29] with auction actions concluding on 10 December 2020. The companies PHU Rajbud and Torhamer were awarded the contracts for a broader reconstruction of the line,[30] and the PKM's construction contract was signed with Torhamer on 22 December 2020.[31] On 6 January 2022, the Pomeranian voivode officially approved the Kartuzy bypass revitalization process.[32] The first train moved onto the tracks of the Kartuzy bypass on 17 November 2023,[33] and on 11 March 2024, regular passenger service began on the bypass.[34]

Following a second auction, a contract was signed with the company Torpol (pl) on 30 April 2021 concerning the electrification of the PKM's lines,[35] and electrification work began on 15 June 2021.[36] On the night of 20–21 April 2022, overhead lines were installed by workers above the PKM network,[37] with the first test runs of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains on the line occurring overnight between 8 and 9 November 2022.[38] On 23 May 2023, electrification work concluded,[39] and the first EMUs were released for scheduled passenger service on the line on 12 June.[40]

Initial plans for the construction of a new branch of the PKM's network – PKM Południe – were formalized in a 2020 feasibility study regarding such a project.[41] In June 2021, a formal construction contract and future auction was announced,[42] and an auction for the contract being awarded did occur in 2024; the companies awarded the contract on 28 June that year were Infra – Centrum Doradztwa, Mosty Gdańsk, and Biuro Projektów Komunikacyjnych w Poznaniu.[43] The final decision to go forward with the project made on 11 March 2025, with an expected cost of 2.3 billion zł and a length of 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi).[44]

Routes and stations

[edit]

The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway company itself owns 9 stations between Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and Gdańsk Osowa stations, along with the railway line connecting them. The railway is connected to neighbouring lines, leading to Gdańsk Główny, Kartuzy, Kościerzyna, and Gdynia Główna; these lines are owned by the Polish State Railways.[45] Polregio is the sole operator of passenger trains on the line.[46] Four rail lines operate on the PKM line: Kościerzyna – Gdańsk Osowa – Gdynia Główna, Kościerzyna – Gdańsk Wrzeszcz – Gdynia Główna, Gdańsk Główny – Kartuzy, and Gdańsk Wrzeszcz – Gdańsk Port Lotniczy – Gdynia Główna.[47]

Rolling stock

[edit]

Up to 2023, the PKM was served by diesel multiple unit trains provided by Pesa such as the Pesa Atribo.[48] After an extensive electrification effort in 2022 and 2023, in the latter year, electric multiple unit EN57 trains operated by Polregio began passenger service on the line.[49][50][51]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (30 March 2013). "Szlakiem wiaduktów Kolei Kokoszkowskiej" [On the trail of the viaducts of the Kokoszki railway]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ^ Lewiński, Tomasz (1 July 1999). "W 15 minut do Kartuz" [In 15 minutes to Kartuzy]. tomek.strony.ug.edu.pl (in Polish). University of Gdańsk. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b Stankiewicz, Ryszard (2015). "Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna" [Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway]. Świat Kolei (in Polish). 10. Łódź: Emi-press: 26–33. ISSN 1234-5962.
  4. ^ "Ulotka informacyjna" [Informational leaflet]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Rozpoczęły się wyburzenia pod budowę pomorskiej kolei" [Demolitions for the construction of the Pomeranian railway have begun]. budownictwo.wnp.pl (in Polish). 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Wyłoniono wykonawcę Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway's contractor has been revealed]. wybrzeze24.pl (in Polish). 8 March 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Polsko-hiszpańskie konsorcjum firm Budimex S.A. i FERROVIAL AGROMAN S.A. zwycięzcą przetargu na budowę Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [Polish-Spanish consortium of the companies Budimex S.A. and FERROVIAL AGROMAN S.A. win the auction for constructing the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Umowa na budowę Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej podpisana" [The contract for the construction of the Pomeranian Metropolitan has been signed]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  9. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (1 July 2013). "Dziś oficjalnie rusza budowa Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [Today the construction of the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway officially begins]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Budowa PKM: stare wiadukty wyburzone" [Construction of the PKM: old viaducts demolished]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 18 August 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  11. ^ Stąporek, Michał (11 December 2013). "Profesor ASP bliski wstrzymania budowy Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [A professor of the Academy of Fine Arts comes close to halting the construction of the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (29 April 2014). "Był przystanek PKM Banino. Teraz to Gdańsk Rębiechowo" [Formerly PKM Banino station. It's now Gdańsk Rębiechowo]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  13. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (22 July 2014). "Pesa dostarczy pociągi dla linii PKM. Odwołanie Newagu oddalone" [Pesa will deliver the rtains for the PKM line. Newag's cancellation is more distant]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  14. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (11 September 2014). "Ostatni dzień otwarty na budowie Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [The last open days of the construction site of the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Rozpoczęły się próby obciążeniowe wiaduktów PKM. Apel do mieszkańców o niewchodzenie na teren budowy!" [Load testing has begun on the viaducts of the PKM. We ask the inhabitants not to walk onto the construction site!]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). 20 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  16. ^ Dybalski, Jakub (21 April 2014). "Testy na PKM z dużą prędkością" [High-speed tests on the PKM]. transport-publiczny.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  17. ^ "PKM SA w nowej siedzibie" [PKM SA in new headquarters]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). 3 July 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  18. ^ Szymajda, Maciej (13 August 2015). "PKM ze świadectwem bezpieczeństwa. Można wozić pasażerów" [PKM has a safety certificate. It can carry passengers]. transport-publiczny.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Na Pomorzu ruszy nowa linia kolejowa, pierwsza od 40 lat w Polsce" [A new railway line will open in Pomerania, the first in 40 years in Poland]. tvn24.pl (in Polish). TVN24. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  20. ^ Korolczuk, Maciej (1 September 2015). "PKM-ka już na torach. Linia imponuje, ale są kłopoty z rozkładem i biletami" [The PKM is now on the tracks. The line is impressive, but there are troubles with the schedule and ticketing]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  21. ^ Kosycarz, Maciej (1 October 2015). "KFP / SZYNOBUSEM PKM Z KARTUZ DO GDAŃSKA" [KFP / By a PKM railway car from Kartuzy to Gdańsk]. kfp.pl (in Polish). Kosycarz Foto Press. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  22. ^ Urbanowicz, Witold (29 December 2015). "PKM ogłasza przetarg na budowę dwóch przystanków w Gdyni" [PKM announces an auction for the construction of two stations in Gdynia]. transport-publiczny.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Umowa na budowę przystanków PKM Gdynia Karwiny i Gdynia Stadion podpisana" [The contract for the construction of the PKM stations Gdynia Karwiny and Gdynia Stadion has been signed]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Czerwona wstęga połączyła Gdynię i Gdańsk. Otwarcie nowych przystanków Gdynia Stadion i Gdynia Karwiny" [A red ribbon has linked Gdynia and Gdańsk. The opening of the new stations Gdynia Stadion and Gdynia Karwiny]. pomorskie.eu (in Polish). Pomeranian Voivodeship. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  25. ^ "PKM podpisała umowę o unijne dofinansowanie inwestycji. 62 mln złotych na elektryfikację dwóch linii kolejowych i nowy przystanek" [The PKM has signed a contract regarding the Union's funding of an investment. 62 million złoty for the electrification of two railway lines and for a new station]. dziennikbaltycki.pl (in Polish). Dziennik Bałtycki. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  26. ^ Korolczuk, Maciej (11 December 2022). "Nowy przystanek i zmiana w biletach na linii PKM" [A new station and ticketing changes on the PKM line]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  27. ^ Stefanowska, Janina (13 May 2018). "Modernizacja linii kolejowej nr 201 z Gdyni do Kościerzyny. W Kartuzach zwierają szyki w obronie kolejowego połączenia z Gdańskiem[zdjęcia]" [The modernization of railway line no. 201 from Gdynia to Kościerzyna. Preparations are being made in Kartuzy to defend the railway connection with Gdańsk]. dziennikbaltycki.pl (in Polish). Dziennik Bałtycki. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Ruszyły przygotowania do budowy tzw. „bajpasa kartuskiego"" [Preparations have begun for the construction of the so-called "Kartuzy bypass"]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  29. ^ Gałązka, Dariusz (6 May 2019). "PKM rozstrzygnęła przetarg w sprawie "bajpasa kartuskiego"" [The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway has arbitrated on an auction regarding the "Kartuzy bypass"]. trojmiasto.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Gazeta Wyborcza. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  30. ^ "PLK wybiera wykonawcę swojego fragmentu bajpasa kartuskiego" [The PLK has chosen the constructor of its fragment of the Kartuzy bypass]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  31. ^ "PKM SA podpisała umowę na realizację tzw. „bajpasu kartuskiego" z gdyńską firmą Torhamer" [PKM SA has signed a contract for the construction of the so-called "Kartuzy bypass" with the Gdynia firm Torhamer]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  32. ^ Balicki, Stanisław (6 January 2022). "Prace na gdańskiej części „bajpasu kartuskiego" mogą ruszyć od zaraz. Jest pozwolenie na budowę obiektów inżynieryjnych" [Work on the Gdańsk section of the "Kartuzy bypass" can now begin. The construction of engineered objects has been allowed for]. dziennikbaltycki.pl (in Polish). Dziennik Bałtycki. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  33. ^ "Pierwszy pociąg wjechał na bajpas kartuski [film]" [The first train has made its way onto the Kartuzy bypass [video]]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 17 November 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  34. ^ Szymajda, Michał (11 March 2024). "Pociągi pojechały po Bajpasie Kartuskim" [Trains have moved along the Kartuzy Bypass]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  35. ^ "Umowa z wykonawcą elektryfikacji linii PKM podpisana" [A contract has been signed with the executor of the electrification of the PKM line]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  36. ^ Brancewicz, Maciej (15 June 2021). "Rozpoczęła się elektryfikacja Pomorskiej Kolei Metropolitalnej" [The electrification of the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway has begun]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  37. ^ Brancewicz, Michał (21 April 2022). "W nocy "kładli prąd" na trasie PKM" [They "laid the electricity" on the PKM's route overnight]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  38. ^ "Pierwszy pociąg elektryczny pojechał trasą PKM" [The first electric train has moved along the PKM's route]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 9 November 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  39. ^ "Pierwsze elektryczne pociągi PKM, ale tylko w czerwcu" [The first electric trains of the PKM, but only in June]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 23 May 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Przełomowy dzień na linii PKM" [A groundbreaking day on the PKM line]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 12 June 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  41. ^ "Rośnie szansa na trasę kolejową PKM Południe" [The chance for a PKM Południe railway line is increasing]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). 4 January 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  42. ^ Jamroż, Michał (24 January 2022). "Kolej na południe Gdańska coraz realniejsza. Przetarg na budowę nawet za niecałe 4 lata" [A railway to Gdańsk's south is becoming realer and realer. An auction for its construction within even the next 4 years]. trojmiasto.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Gazeta Wyborcza. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  43. ^ "Projektant PKM Południe wybrany" [The designer of PKM Południe has been chosen]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  44. ^ Brancewicz, Michał (11 March 2025). "PKM Południe: pierwszy krok milowy wartej 2,3 mld zł inwestycji" [PKM Południe: the first step of a 2.3 billion zł investment]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  45. ^ "Dla pasażera" [For passengers]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  46. ^ "Rozkłady jazdy" [Schedules]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  47. ^ "Schematy połączeń kolejowych" [Schemes of railway connections]. pkm-sa.pl (in Polish). Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  48. ^ Naskręt, Maciej (12 June 2015). "Pierwszy szynobus dla PKM już w Trójmieście" [The first railway car for the PKM is already in the Tricity]. trojmiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  49. ^ Majdras, Jakub (9 November 2022). "Historyczny przejazd. EN57 po raz pierwszy na linii PKM" [A historic ride. The EN57 for the first time on the PKM line]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  50. ^ "EN57 dojechał do gdańskiego lotniska" [An EN57 made its way to Gdańsk's airport]. transinfo.pl (in Polish). 10 June 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  51. ^ Szymajda, Michał (5 July 2023). "Elektryczne pociągi na Pomorską Kolej Metropolitalną wrócą we wrześniu" [Electric trains will return to the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway in September]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.