The investment announced several years ago is finally underway. The new Częstochowa Główna railway station is to meet modern passenger needs. The railwaymen have just announced a tender procedure involving the selection of a construction contractor and contract engineer.
The current railway station building in Częstochowa was constructed in 1996, although individual parts were handed over earlier. The passageway with waiting rooms over the tracks was put into use in 1991 for World Youth Day. The post-modern building was officially opened by the then president Aleksander Kwasniewski. The modern building was meant to symbolise the city entering the 21st century. Its design was made by architect Ryszard Frankowicz and his team. However, right from the start the building did not live up to expectations. Built over the railway tracks, the large walkway with a waiting room was supposed to be lively with shops and services. These, however, were not willingly occupied by tenants; they were empty. The modern facility grew old very quickly.
Now, less than 30 years after it opened, a decision has been made to make changes. The concept published by the railwaymen calls for the construction of a complex consisting of two facilities – a railway station and a bus terminal. The Częstochowa Central Station is to act as an interchange and cope with the growing number of travellers.
According to statistics from the Railway Transport Office, 3.69 million passengers used Częstochowa station in 2023 alone, 300,000 more than in the previous year (3.39 million). Money for PKP station investments follows the passenger, says Paweł Lisiewicz, PKP S.A. Management Board member for development and investment.
The bus terminal and the nearby roundabout will be rebuilt. The entrance area to the station will be moved, which is expected to have a positive impact on passenger safety.
The modern railway station will be equipped with an innovative PSIM platform integrating and enabling comprehensive management of security, building automation, communication or transport systems. The building will also be adapted to the needs of the new tenants, which includes the provision of an adequate electrical connection or water and sewage systems, which are inadequate in the current building. The new project also takes into account the adaptation of the property to the current European requirements for people with reduced mobility, the visually impaired and the hearing impaired, reports the press office of PKP S.A.
Fans of post-modern architecture still tried to save the station, which was supposed to be helped by an attempt to enter it in the register of historical monuments. However, the conservator discontinued the proceedings in this case in April this year. The construction of the new station will be subsidised by EU funds. The exact cost of the works is not yet known.
source: PKP S.A.
Read also: Railways | Architecture in Poland | Postmodernism | Railway station | whiteMAD on Instagram
