The Krakow metro is a project that for years was considered nothing more than a dream. Successive authorities have postponed plans to build a metro in Krakow. All the signs are that binding decisions have been made to make Krakow the second city in Poland to have its own metro system. Although perhaps system is too big a word. For the time being, the first section is planned to connect the eastern and western parts of the Malopolska capital, cutting through the historic centre and linking it with the most important transfer hubs. The section is to be 6 kilometres long and the cost is estimated at PLN 3 billion.
Metro in Krakow – 6 kilometres on the east-west line
The City Hall has submitted the documentation necessary to issue an environmental decision to the Local Government Appeal Board. The College needs a few months to prepare it. This will pave the way for the invitation to tender for the design and construction work.
– This is another important step towards the construction of a metro in Krakow. Preparing an environmental decision is the most important and time-consuming stage in the preparation of this type of investment,” notes Mayor Aleksander Miszalski. By the end of next year, the city intends to select a contractor for the design of the first, 6-kilometre-long stage of the first metro line on the east-west line. According to the assumptions, the costs of its construction will be covered by the state budget, EU funds and the city.
First metro line in Krakow
The first stage will cover the section from the junction of Reymonta and Piastowska streets to the KST IV tram line (Meissnera – Mistrzejowice streets) currently under construction in the area of the Młyńskie roundabout. The most important transfer points will be three stations located in the city centre: near the Central Station, the Bagatela Theatre and the Mogilskie Roundabout.
– The estimated cost of realising this section is around PLN 3 billion. Secondly, we will focus on the eastern and western stages. They will be implemented by a private partner in the public-private partnership formula,” says Stanisław Mazur, deputy mayor, who supervises the preparation of the construction of the Underground in Krakow.
More than 26 kilometres of the Underground in Krakow
According to the city, the length of the second and third stage of the first metro line is about 20 kilometres. The estimated cost of realising these stages is around PLN 10 billion. Krakow assumes that they could be realised under the PPP formula (using the competitive dialogue procedure). Krakow estimates that the construction of the line, which is about 26 km long, will cost about PLN 13 billion. Plus rolling stock for PLN 1.5 billion
Council appointed, office in the office from Monday
As a reminder, in September, Mayor Aleksander Miszalski appointed a scientific and technical council for the construction of the metro. The 20-member council will play a key role in decision-making related to the planning and construction of the underground transport system.
This week, a specialised office for the Underground in the Strategy, Planning and Investment Monitoring Department at the city council starts its work, which will be solely responsible for preparing the most important investment for Krakow in the coming years.
What next for the pre-metro in Krakow?
Let us recall that Krakow is currently building the so-called PREMETRO, a tram line which will partly operate underground. The completion of the premetre work is planned for 2025. During the design work, there was talk of digging wider tunnels so that, in the future, metro trains could run in the footprint of the premetro. At the moment, the project does not involve rebuilding the premetro. We wrote more about this topic HERE!
source: UM Kraków / www.krakow.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Public transport | Railway station | Ecology | Krakow