An EU-funded project has constructed and upgraded key road infrastructure in order to establish a multimodal transport hub at Łódź Fabryczna railway station, situated in the centre of the Polish city of Łódź. By integrating the Polish rail network with other modes of transport, including car parking systems and associated infrastructure, the project aims to increase the competitiveness of urban public transport for residents across the metropolitan area.
Poland’s Łódź train station revamped to create vibrant multimodal transport hub
- 23 March 2017
The main beneficiaries of the project will be inhabitants of Łódź metropolitan area who use rail, bus and tram connections in order to get around the city. The project involved renovating sections of roads surrounding the railways station in order to enable buses, taxis and individual cars to directly access train facilities and establish a functioning transport interchange. This will make it easier for commuters to access rail links to other parts of the region, with European cities such as Berlin and Prague now within easy reach.
The station was closed in October 2011 in order to carry out the redevelopment work. Located in the central part of Poland, Łódź is the third largest city in the country with a population of over 700 000. The city benefits from its central location in Poland and a number of firms have located their logistics centres in the vicinity.
A complete overhaul
This project, which complements other projects involved in the complete renovation of the Łódź Fabryczna railway station, did not entail the construction or modernisation of railway infrastructure. Rather, it focused on connecting the facility to the road network and associated infrastructure.
This work involved the construction and modernisation of tram lines as well as construction of tram stops; construction of bus stands including transit-type bus stands for city buses and underground-type bus stands for regional and long-haul buses; and the construction of a system of ramps and access roads to the new multimodal hub. A ‘Park & Ride’ car parking facility and underground bicycle parking space has also been created.
The end result is that the project has successfully extended the city’s tram and trolleybus network by some 0.8 km, while modernising an existing section of the network by some 0.6 km.
Urban transport benefits
The project forecasts that the refurbished rail hub will encourage a decrease in private car usage in the city, leading to savings amounting to EUR 487 329 a year in vehicle operating costs and environmental impact costs. The number of people using urban public transport has been forecast to reach 7 498 658 passengers in 2016.
The beneficiary of the project will be the city of Łódź, which will own the facilities and infrastructure created by the project. The operation of which will be entrusted to a municipal transport company on the basis of a separate agreement.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Multimodal Hub at Łódź Fabryczna Railway Station” isEUR 110 800 655, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 85 766 536 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environment-friendly Transport”.