The historic Suwałki railway station, preserved in almost unchanged form since its opening in 1899, is currently undergoing a major metamorphosis. The investment, carried out by Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. (Polish State Railways), aims to restore the historical splendour of the façade and create a fully modern and comfortable space for travellers, including those with reduced mobility.
Historical values and architecture
Suwałki railway station was built between 1898 and 1899 as part of the strategic Zaniemieńska Railway, connecting the St Petersburg-Warsaw main line. The building was constructed of red, unplastered brick, which was considered the most practical solution for railway facilities from the late 1860s. The brick style, also known as industrial style, combines austerity of form with rich façade decoration. Despite the turmoil of war, the station has survived almost unchanged, and its preserved character is comparable to other stations on the same line, such as in Augustów or Kamienna Nova.
Scope of conservation and renovation work
Under the supervision of a conservator, the façade will be restored and the building insulated from the inside, which will preserve the original appearance of the red brick. The window and door frames, trusses and roofing will be replaced, and the existing toilet building will be demolished. The interior will undergo a complete refurbishment, with a spacious central waiting area with electronic arrival and departure displays and spaces for ticket machines. Accessible toilets for people with disabilities will be located in the same area.
The station space will be divided into separate tenant spaces: WARS, Interlux and PKP Intercity, while the Railway Protection Service station will be given its own entrance. In addition, two premises for rent with areas of 9.75 sq m and 15.26 sq m have been designed. The area in front of the building will gain parking spaces for cars and a bicycle shelter.
Commencement of works:
Modern systems and security
Eco-friendly and safety-enhancing solutions will be introduced during the renovation. A BMS (Building Management System) will be installed to optimise water, electricity and heat consumption. Monitoring, access control, burglary and assault signalling and a fire alarm system will increase the level of protection for people and the facility itself.
Our aim is to improve the quality of service at our railway stations so that the facilities serve all passengers in the best possible way. Many of the railway stations modernised by the Polish State Railways are historic buildings with a rich history, which, thanks to investment, are regaining their former character. The Suwałki railway station is just such a building,” says Paweł Lisiewicz, member of the PKP S.A. Management Board.
In the first stage of construction, the contractor erected a temporary container station next door. It consists of two buildings, where passengers can enjoy basic services and tenants function in separate spaces. In this way, work on the main building does not interfere with the daily operation of the station.
The Suwałki station serves PKP Intercity’s long-distance trains to Warsaw, Szczecin, Kraków and Mockava, as well as POLREGIO’s regional trains connecting to Białystok. According to the Railway Transport Office, in 2024 the station received an average of 700 passengers per day and 11 trains stopped there.
The total gross value of the investment is almost PLN 15 million, subsidised from the state budget. The investor is PKP S.A., the project was prepared by the Akint company from Warsaw, and the construction work is being carried out by Global Budownictwo from Częstochowa. The reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in 2027, and the opening of the renovated station to passengers will depend on the progress of the works, technical acceptance and obtaining permits.
source: PKP S.A.
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