Full steam ahead
The president of PKP, Andrzej Wach, talked to WBJ about the company's plan.
Special preliminary agreements have been signed by PKP and the city halls in Warsaw, Łódź, Kielce, Gdynia and Katowice. This year architectural plans for the new stations should be prepared and PKP, with the local authorities, will decide on exactly how the cooperation with investors will work. Investors will be selected through tenders in 2006.
Agnieszka Barteczko: The new stations are to be ready in three years. Is there a guarantee that the story of the station in Katowice (i.e. protracted tender procedures, agreements with investors being broken) will not repeat itself?
Andrzej Wach: There is no guarantee. There are three important sides in this process - the governments, investors and railways. If any of them fails then, despite the best will, we will not be able to fulfill our plans. Talking on behalf of PKP I can say that we will do everything to enable our passengers and citizens to use the new functional stations as soon as possible.
What are the deadlines for the projects?
We want to select the strategic investment adviser this year, as well as at least one financial investor to rebuild a big station - in Gdynia, Katowice or in Warsaw. Here, much depends on the cooperation with local governments.
What criteria will be taken into account when selecting the investor?
Experience, projects completed, previous partners. We will need serious investors looking with a perspective of a dozen, not a few years.
How much will the reconstruction of particular stations cost?
It depends on the final projects. None of the major stations in Europe cost less than EUR 100 (zł.388) million.
Will the renovations attract passengers?
We are counting on that. We hope that the stations will become the landmarks of the towns, attracting their public life. We want passengers to come back to the railway.
What is PKP's experience in the case of the towns where stations have already been modernized?
It is very important to break with the barriers and stereotypes functioning in some people's thinking. The Polish railway is often perceived as a separate, closed world with no access and it is not known with whom to talk. This is absolutely not the case. What is also significant is the will on the governments' side to change something for the better. Not all local authorities have such a positive approach.
What benefits will the modernized stations have for the towns?
New, modernized and more functional stations with a surrounding infrastructure, a better connection with other metropolises and satisfied citizens. What else can you wish for?
