Warsaw. Changes to the West Station. Two platforms will be closed

A general reconstruction of the West Railway Station has been underway for two years. Despite the work in progress, the station is still usable by passengers. Only that the trains run on a limited number of platforms and there are some difficulties to reach the platforms. PKP PLK announced on Thursday that from 11 December the contractor will extend the scope of the works to platforms 4 and 3. This will result in their closure. At the same time, platform number 5 has also been inaccessible to passengers since 24 October.

The railway workers explain that their demolition will begin on Sunday, as well as the dismantling of bus shelters, catenary and tracks. In place of the previous platforms 5, 4 and 3, new ones will be built on a concrete slab. In addition, the contractor will remove the soil under the slab and build an underground passageway that will connect all platforms. The work is being done using technology designed to make the new platforms available to travelers as soon as possible.

The announced works will cause changes in Aleje Jerozolimskie’s access to the remaining platforms. Travelers will be able to reach platforms 1-2 and 6-9 via a footbridge whose entrance is on the square adjacent to the station building, next to the West Station office buildings. Furthermore, platforms 1-2 will be accessible through the existing tunnel. Signage prepared by the contractor and detailed information on traffic organization shall be posted in the station area.

The closure of platforms will also affect the timetable. From Sunday, some trains passing through Warszawa Zachodnia will pass through the station Warsaw Gdansk. PKP PLK announces that selected regional and agglomeration trains will be routed through Warsaw Centralna, will be shortened or cancelled. “Passengers are requested to check the train schedule before travelling. Details are available on the portalpasazera.pl website and application as well as on the carriers’ websites” – it was indicated.

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It is also known what the contractor’s future plans are. Works will begin near the Warszawa Ochota stop on Monday 19 December. They will relate to the construction of a link between the extra-urban extra-urban line and the long-distance inter-urban line. “This solution will improve train planning and circulation during the further phases of the works and will increase the possibilities of traffic organization after the completion of the investment. The works – in agreement with the railway companies – are scheduled for January 8” – announces PKP PLK. This phase of investing also brings about changes in communication. On the Warszawa Zachodnia – Warszawa Śródmieście – Warszawa Wschodnia section, connections in both directions will be made along one track. Therefore, some regional and agglomeration trains will be shortened or cancelled. Also, some of the courses will be directed by Warsaw Central.

PKP PLK informs that the construction of railway viaducts and an underground passage continued at the Zachodni railway station. The contractor is completing the connection of traffic control devices in the new local control center (LCS) building at the station and in the Warsaw Włochy signal box building. “After completion of all works, traffic will be conducted using computer control devices, which will allow faster clearing of trains and increase the level of safety” – announce the railwaymen.

Three railway viaducts several hundred meters long were built on the west side of the station. Work is underway for the laying of tracks, switches and suspension of the catenary. In the pedestrian tunnel between platforms 9 and 6, the laying of the floors and the finishing of the walls is in progress. The contractor also prepares escalator and elevator structures and assembles electrical systems. At the same time, the works relating to the sewerage and drainage are in progress.

The modernization of the Warszawa Zachodnia station will last until 2023. This is an investment of over two billion zlotys. As part of it, new additional platforms are being built, and all platforms, including existing ones, will be covered. Communication in the station area will be facilitated by a pedestrian bridge connecting Wola and Ochota. The underground passage will also undergo a metamorphosis: a fragment of the current passage on the Tunelowa Street side will be completely dismantled to allow for the preparation of a larger corridor.

The station will also have escalators, lifts, an information system and wide walkways to facilitate access to trains. It will be easier to combine train travel with public transport. Safe rail traffic management must be ensured by modern IT devices and systems.

“Aglomerations and long-distance travel will be more efficient. Engineering structures, kilometers of facilities, about 36 kilometers of track, 130 switches and the traction network are undergoing complete reconstruction” – concludes PKP PLK.