minister of infrastructure and transport

When  in 1999 I was appointed the voivode of Łódź, one of the entrepreneurs told me that he had an idea how to quickly connect Łódź and Warsaw, without waiting for motorways. He wanted to create private railway with a modern rolling stock. It was for the first time that I heard of plans to create a fast connection between these two cities. Yet, it turned out that a super-modern train is not enough, the whole line and infrastructure need to be modernized – track way, power network and also telecommunications network. At high speeds these factors shall be of great importance as fast trains are run by electronic systems which need man’s supervision only.

Later, this project was overtaken by the railway company where many people became enthusiastic about the idea to build high-speed rail links. They asked themselves a question how to plan a fast train route so that it was attractive for these two cities and at the same time raise the level technological advancement of the Polish National Railway and bring about development in other large cities of Poland. It became clear then that it is necessary to build a tunnel underground as there is no other way to run the high-speed line through the city. There were ideas for the rail way to surround Łódź but in such case this project would completely lose its attractiveness and would not be able to serve its primary function – connecting the largest cities of Poland.

It was when I received information that there were some enthusiasts in Łódź who intended to combine this railway project with an idea of building a new city centre. Łódź, indeed, can boasts of neither a classic ‘old town’ nor a market which would serve the role of the centre for public, social and cultural life. Piotrkowska street partly serves this role at the moment. Yet despite the fact that it is the street of unique atmosphere, public life exists differently in the area stretched over a few kilometers and the area closed by some surrounding borders. That is why I found the concept to create the center for Łódź from scratch very unusual, even though the idea itself seemed absolutely crazy. But today high-speed rail is being developed in large countries in Europe. France was the first country, followed by Germany, Italy, Spain and also England. Poland, which belongs to six largest states of the European Union must implement its own project.

I was not yet in the post of the minister of infrastructure, when I  asked for professional advice both in expert circles and  rail people. I can also remember my discussions with ministers in the previous government when information regarding the project of building high-speed railway , the so called ‘Y’ project first appeared. This project was discussed – the first agreement between Łódź and Polish National Railways PKP S.A. was signed in 2007. Unfortunately this project didn’t have sufficient support in the previous government , until Donald Tusk in his opening speech announced that they were going to perform a feasibility study in this tenure. Successful attempts were made to convince the Prime Minister that it is a technologically important  project beneficial for the country but also the measure of technological advancement in Poland. It was when I started to believe in viability of this project.

When I was appointed the minister, first analyses had already been made. Andrzej Wach, president of PKP S.A. outlined the idea of relocating the rail underground  Łódź and on the second day following my appointment for the post of the minister we got on the locomotive and set off on a journey from Warsaw to Cracow going along Central Trunk Railway. There the president showed me variants of high-speed rail route. The ‘Łódź variant’ was most attractive though it was located over 16 meters underground.

In December 2008 the government passed a program to build the high-speed rail. For the first time such a document was accompanied by a forecast as to the influence this investments will have on the environment, in compliance with the European Union regulations. It is extremely important as the cost of investment  is estimated at the level of PLN 24-26 bn. The budget will cover only a part of the required funding. As for the remaining part, we are going to apply for  the EU funds , EU to the great extent favours rail projects. Environment friendly rail is the so called green transport. In order to find out whether we will receive co-financing from EU structural funds, we need to perform a feasibility study. The Polish National Railways PKP S.A. appointed a special team and started a tender procedure to perform this study which is expected to finish by the mid 2011. This study will contain the most important parameters, including  the cost of investment. Only then we can start talks with the European Commission.

Since the mid 70s it has been the first large project of building a modern rail infrastructure. It will destroy the rail structure dating back to the times of annexation. It will reduce the distance between Łódź and Warsaw , Wrocław and Poznań. The journey, which by car takes over two, sometimes three hours, and when stuck in traffic jams even longer, will take – from the centre of one city to the centre of another – several dozen minutes. It will be a revolution. Thanks to this investment, Łódź will receive a new opportunity, because it will be ‘on the way’ For the city it is something more than blood transfusion – Łódź will gain a new area , with an art centre and a new meeting place for the Łódź people. The project creates a completely new area, a new order in the centre of Łódź combined with ideas which will promote Łódź as a special place where modern art will play an important role. So it seems that what was done by Strzemiński and Kobro 80 years ago was not a temporary thing but has many followers now and creates a very good atmosphere around Łódź.  

Recolating the railway station underground will be a big venture – we called it ‘operation on the open city’. Such an investment requires an extremely efficient management. First, the railway station will be closed, and the function of the destination station will be taken over by the Łódź Widzew station. There is a lot of work that must be done but the plan of actions and schedule are ready. There will be new car parks, new public transport stops. The railway station building will be extended so as to ensure that passenger are provided with quality service during the construction works of the new Fabryczna railway station. This investment is intended to serve people and we must do out best to minimize any inconveniences for passengers.

Today we remain focused first and foremost on the reconstruction of the Łódź Fabryczna railway station, which will be located underground. But this in only a precondition for the large „Y’ project. Therefore, it is important to plan actions carefully. If the project of rebuilding the railway station was thought as an independent from “Y” project, it wouldn’t be necessary to locate the station underground. The most important thing is that there is a good atmosphere around this project in the city. Local inhabitants have accepted the idea and are keen to see results. It will take some time as the investment is going to take a few years to finish and the whole high-speed rail will have been finished by 2020. It requires patience. This investment does not have any political opponents and everything aims to start works at Łódź Fabryczna  station in the second quarter of 2010. I presume that even financial crisis which affected Poland, though not as much as other European Union states, cannot hamper these preparation.

There are many people behind this great project. One of them is a person whom I mentioned at the beginning and who said ten years ago that there is a need to build a fast rail line between Łódź and Warsaw. Let this person remain anonymous, yet I admit this person had the biggest influence on shaping my awareness about railway. Another one is Andrzej Walczak, who is particularly determined to give this idea a deeper meaning beside its transportation function. Without his engagement, this project would not gain people’s support. This project is supported by rail people , Andrzej Wach and Zbiegniew Szfrański – presidents along with their colleagues are doing their best to provide Poland with its own high-speed rail. The Marshal of voivodship expressed his support and I presume he will be ready to provide financial help, too. Bogdan Zdrojewski the Minister of Culture and National Heritage,  is yet another man behind this project.

The final success depends, beside time and money, on zeal, determination as well as effective cooperation between all institutions involved in this project. It requires quick thinking and quick actions if problems arise. Telephones will play a much bigger role than mail. The pressure exerted by public opinion on rail authorities enforcing structural reforms and accelerating transformations is also of great assistance. Project opponents sometimes accuse us of building something extremely attractive which will serve only few passengers, at the same time postponing modernization of traditional rail lines. It is not the case. We estimate that high speed rail must result in cutting travel time for inhabitant of not only Wrocław, Warsaw, Poznań or Łódź, but also those from Białystok, Jelenia Góra, Rzeszów and Lublin. The same trains will be able to travel at lower speed on conventional lines. That was the case in Spain where Public opinion constrained the expansion of rail net and today they can boast of two thousand kilometers of modern rail lines , where trains run at the speed of over 300pkph. They have made an important technological step forward. And we also need to make such a step.

This venture will start a new phase of the development of Łódź. For the last 20 years the city has undergone a significant transformation, the former centre of textile industry has gained a different character. The most crucial , fundamental thing is the academic development taking place in Łódź, service centres are being established. It is a great opportunity and future  for the city. If projects, which will make it possible to increase the potential of Łódź universities, establish centres for development of new technologies, are implemented then the slogan “ It’s Łódź’s turn now” will prove true.

In 15 years I would like to say not only that there is a fast train running through Łódź, but also that nearby there is a large transcontinental airport neighbouring on these rail lines. Then Łódź will gain a real window to the world and this, in turn , will contribute to the acceleration of development not only of the city , not only the centre of Poland but also the whole country.