19 December – a symbolic date for the Łódź Fabryczna station. This was the day when the characteristic neon sign “Łódź Fabryczna”, which had been welcoming passengers since 1974, was taken down from the roof over the platforms of the old station on the side of Kilińskiego street. The sign, which has faded in recent years and showed only the letters “ód” “czna” at the time of dismantling, will undergo repairs and maintenance. It is possible that it will return to the new site after the opening of the underground station.

On Monday, the workers form the Torpol company, the contractor for the reconstruction of the station, divided the neon into four parts. One after another, the fragments “ŁÓDŹ”, “FAB”, “RY” and “CZNA” descended from the roof over the platforms and onto the ground. This marks the disappearance of another element which served as a reminder that, for over a hundred years, this was the location of the most important railway station in Łódź. The tracks, railway traction and storage buildings are also being dismantled. Construction works should be in full swing by spring.

What will happen to the neon, which has now attained cult status? Katarzyna Rumowska, the spokesperson for this investment, is not able to answer this question yet. It is certain that the 40-year-old neon letters will undergo renovation. A proposal was raised to transfer the sign to the Neon Museum in Warsaw, but there are also plans to incorporate the structure into promotional activities related with the construction of the multi-mode station. The fate of the neon is also being watched by councillors from the commission for the promotion of the city and international cooperation, who appealed to the City Council and the president of Łódź to take actions aimed at preserving the neon. Perhaps the new railway station structure can accommodate not only neon letters, but also other elements reminding us of the old station – railway track fragments or elements of the old building.

The fate of the neon remains an open question, so the chance for breathing new life into this calling card of the Łódź railway station lies in the public opinion. The citizens of Łódź should have a chance of voicing their opinion whether they want to enjoy the sight of the well-known sign. We are looking forward to your opinions, ideas and points regarding the neon sign and other elements of the old railway station at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will publish the most interesting ones; we also hope to present them to the contractor.