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Szybka Kolej Miejska (Warsaw)
Encyclopedia
Szybka Kolej Miejska (Fast Urban Railway) is a rail operator providing services in the Warsaw metropolitan area using the national rail network while constituting a part of the cities integrated public transport
system organized by the Warsaw Transport Authority.
, especially the cross city line
with its over 2 km long tunnel running under the city center and conveniently located underground station, as a cheap substitute for a badly needed second metro line.
In order to implement this the Mayor of Warsaw Lech Kaczyński
established in 2004 the municipally owned company Szybka Kolej Miejska Sp. z o.o. The company was originally incorporated as a joint venture between the City of Warsaw with 50% shares and the companies Metro Warszawskie Sp. z o.o with 49% shares and Tramwaje Warszawskie Sp. z. o.o with 1% shares, both owned entirely by the city and responsible respectively for the Metro and Tram system. As such the company was notably completely independent from the national rail operator PKP Group
, unlike the Masovian Railways
established by the Masovian Voivodship at around the same time.
The newly formed company was equipped with six Newag 14WE
EMU
s which were extensive modernizations of the PKP class EN57
EMUs, with a modern looking body but retaining the old mechanical components.
A year and a half after being established the Fast Urban Railway initiated its operation with its first trains, opening a line from Warszawa Zachodnia along the cross city line to Warszawa Wschodnia and along the Vistula river to Warszawa Falenica. The new service failed to deliver on its promise to serve as a viable replacement due to the poor state of the rail infrastructure. Passengers within the city center preferred the more accessible trams system and few people wanted to use the trains in the south eastern districts of the city. Additionally while the integrated fare system of the Warsaw Transit Authority offered a large convenience the modern look and relative cleanness of the rolling stock sharply contrasted with the standard found in the Polish railroad, during rush hours most of slots on the tracks were taken up by regional traffic and the new EMUs suffered from the same technical problems as the ones they were based on.
Due to the initial low popularity of the line the original concept was somewhat altered in 2006 with the line extended outside the administrative borders of the city through the Ursus
district into the town of Pruszków
to the west and diverted to the district of the Wesoła and town of Sulejówek
to the east, turning the service into a suburban commuter train which allowed people in the metropolitan area to quickly reach the city center and conveniently transfer within the city's public transit system. The revised formula proved to be very successful leading the city to take purchase all the shares of the company and purchase two more Newag 14WE EMUs. The popularity of trains run the Fast Urban Rail was also instrumental in the city negotiating a deal with the Masovian Voivodship to have the Masovian Railways honor long term tickets of the Warsaw Transit Authority, first along the route of the Fast Urban Rail and eventually within the entire area served by the city's public transit system.
In 2010 the company purchased four brand new Newag 19WE EMUs and opened a new line to the town of Otwock
. Additionally the Warsaw Transit Authority signed a contract with the Masovian Railways to operate a line between Warszawa Gdańska station on the Warsaw Circumferential Line and the town of Legionowo
under the branding of the Fast Urban Railway.
Future plans include the delivery of 13 new PESA 27WE 'ELF'
EMUs (2011–2012) and opening a new line running through the Służewiec office district and new 1.5 km rail tune presently under construction to the Warsaw Frédéric Chopin Airport
(March 2012).
but only reaching Warszawa Wschodnia, which required most of the potential passengers to transfer there to trains running on the line S2 or regional trains operated by Masovian Railways to reach the city. The line will was extended through Warszawa Śródmieście
and Warszawa Zachodnia to Pruszków
in December.
through Warszawa Śródmieście
to Sulejówek Miłosna. In December 2010 the line was shortened to Warszawa Zachodnia in the West, with the line S1 taking over the route from Pruszków
to Warszawa Zachodnia and further to Warszawa Śródmieście
.
and Legionowo
with some trains reaching Wieliszew
. It is operated by Koleje Mazowieckie
and, from 5 september 2011, SKM Warszawa.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
system organized by the Warsaw Transport Authority.
History
The Warsaw Fast Urban Railway in its present form was initially proposed in 2002, stipulating to use the existing infrastructure of the Warsaw Railway JunctionWarsaw Railway Junction
The Warsaw Railway Junction is a set of seven major railway lines centred around the city of Warsaw. It serves the capital of Poland, as well as cities belonging to its agglomeration of over 2.5 million inhabitants...
, especially the cross city line
Warsaw Cross-City Line
Warsaw cross-city line is a 7 km railway line crossing downtown Warsaw in the East-West direction. Opened in 1933 and electrified in 1936, it initially had two tracks, with additional two added in 1949...
with its over 2 km long tunnel running under the city center and conveniently located underground station, as a cheap substitute for a badly needed second metro line.
In order to implement this the Mayor of Warsaw Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
established in 2004 the municipally owned company Szybka Kolej Miejska Sp. z o.o. The company was originally incorporated as a joint venture between the City of Warsaw with 50% shares and the companies Metro Warszawskie Sp. z o.o with 49% shares and Tramwaje Warszawskie Sp. z. o.o with 1% shares, both owned entirely by the city and responsible respectively for the Metro and Tram system. As such the company was notably completely independent from the national rail operator PKP Group
PKP Group
PKP Group is a Polish conglomerate founded in 2001 from the former single national rail operator, Polskie Koleje Państwowe. The purpose of this change was to match European Union directives of dividing transport service from rail system management and founding separate companies able to sell their...
, unlike the Masovian Railways
Koleje Mazowieckie
Koleje Mazowieckie is a regional rail operator in the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland.- History :The company was founded in 2004 as a joint venture of the Masovian Voivodeship, with 51% shares, and the, then government-owned, PKP Przewozy Regionalne, with 49% shares, to handle local passenger...
established by the Masovian Voivodship at around the same time.
The newly formed company was equipped with six Newag 14WE
14WE
14WE is an electric multiple unit produced by Newag in Nowy Sącz, Poland. It is a heavily modified version of the PKP class EN57 EMU, of early-1960s vintage....
EMU
EMU
-Australia:* Emu Bay, South Australia, on Kangaroo Island* Emu Brewery, historic site in Perth* Emu Creek, near Aurukun, Queensland* Emu Downs Wind Farm, Western Australia, 200km north of Perth...
s which were extensive modernizations of the PKP class EN57
PKP class EN57
EN57 is an electric multiple unit used by the Polish railway operator . It was built for suburban and long-distance services. Presently it is used by Przewozy Regionalne, Szybka Kolej Miejska and Koleje Mazowieckie companies.-History:...
EMUs, with a modern looking body but retaining the old mechanical components.
A year and a half after being established the Fast Urban Railway initiated its operation with its first trains, opening a line from Warszawa Zachodnia along the cross city line to Warszawa Wschodnia and along the Vistula river to Warszawa Falenica. The new service failed to deliver on its promise to serve as a viable replacement due to the poor state of the rail infrastructure. Passengers within the city center preferred the more accessible trams system and few people wanted to use the trains in the south eastern districts of the city. Additionally while the integrated fare system of the Warsaw Transit Authority offered a large convenience the modern look and relative cleanness of the rolling stock sharply contrasted with the standard found in the Polish railroad, during rush hours most of slots on the tracks were taken up by regional traffic and the new EMUs suffered from the same technical problems as the ones they were based on.
Due to the initial low popularity of the line the original concept was somewhat altered in 2006 with the line extended outside the administrative borders of the city through the Ursus
Ursus
Ursus is Latin for "bear". In this form it refers to a male bear or the species regardless of gender; the specifically female form is Ursa. The word may also refer to:* Ursus , praefectus urbi of Constantinople in 415-416...
district into the town of Pruszków
Pruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
to the west and diverted to the district of the Wesoła and town of Sulejówek
Sulejówek
Sulejówek is a town in Poland, about 18 km east of Warsaw city centre and part of its metropolitan area. It is located in Masovian Voivodeship, in Mińsk County...
to the east, turning the service into a suburban commuter train which allowed people in the metropolitan area to quickly reach the city center and conveniently transfer within the city's public transit system. The revised formula proved to be very successful leading the city to take purchase all the shares of the company and purchase two more Newag 14WE EMUs. The popularity of trains run the Fast Urban Rail was also instrumental in the city negotiating a deal with the Masovian Voivodship to have the Masovian Railways honor long term tickets of the Warsaw Transit Authority, first along the route of the Fast Urban Rail and eventually within the entire area served by the city's public transit system.
In 2010 the company purchased four brand new Newag 19WE EMUs and opened a new line to the town of Otwock
Otwock
Otwock is a town in central Poland, some southeast of Warsaw, with 42,765 inhabitants . It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Swider River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Swidermajer....
. Additionally the Warsaw Transit Authority signed a contract with the Masovian Railways to operate a line between Warszawa Gdańska station on the Warsaw Circumferential Line and the town of Legionowo
Legionowo
Legionowo is a town in Masovia . According to the 2004 Census estimate the town has a total population of 50,759.Legionowo is located ca. 23 km to the north-east of the center of Warsaw and only 7 km to the south of Zegrze Reservoir , near the Warsaw-Gdańsk railroad and Warsaw-Suwałki...
under the branding of the Fast Urban Railway.
Future plans include the delivery of 13 new PESA 27WE 'ELF'
PESA ELF
The ELF is an electric multiple unit developed by Polish rolling-stock manufacturer PESA SA. It is intended for commuter and regional service where platform height is 550mm. It is based on earlier EMU designs named ED59 and ED74, previously in use by rail operators in Poland and Slovenia...
EMUs (2011–2012) and opening a new line running through the Służewiec office district and new 1.5 km rail tune presently under construction to the Warsaw Frédéric Chopin Airport
Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport is an international airport located in the Włochy district of Warsaw, Poland. Poland's busiest airport, Warsaw Chopin handles just under 50% of the country's air passenger traffic....
(March 2012).
Line ‹S1› (Otwock – Warszawa Śródmieście – Pruszków)
The line was established in October 2005, running from Warszawa Falenica to Warszawa Zachodnia and suspended indefinitely in July 2006 with all of the rolling stock directed to the newly created line S2. In September 2010 the line was reestablished extended towards the town of OtwockOtwock
Otwock is a town in central Poland, some southeast of Warsaw, with 42,765 inhabitants . It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Swider River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Swidermajer....
but only reaching Warszawa Wschodnia, which required most of the potential passengers to transfer there to trains running on the line S2 or regional trains operated by Masovian Railways to reach the city. The line will was extended through Warszawa Śródmieście
Warszawa Sródmiescie PKP station
Warsaw Śródmieście is a railway station in Warsaw, Poland in the district of Śródmieście. The station serves the suburban tracks of the Warsaw Cross-City Line, used by regional trains run by Koleje Mazowieckie and Szybka Kolej Miejska...
and Warszawa Zachodnia to Pruszków
Pruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
in December.
| Station | District/Town |
|---|---|
| Otwock Otwock Otwock is a town in central Poland, some southeast of Warsaw, with 42,765 inhabitants . It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Swider River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Swidermajer.... |
|
| Otwock Otwock Otwock is a town in central Poland, some southeast of Warsaw, with 42,765 inhabitants . It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Swider River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Swidermajer.... |
|
| Józefów Józefów Józefów is a very common placename in Poland.Towns:* Józefów in Masovian Voivodeship, near Warsaw*Józefów, Biłgoraj County in Lublin Voivodeship Villages:... |
|
| Józefów Józefów Józefów is a very common placename in Poland.Towns:* Józefów in Masovian Voivodeship, near Warsaw*Józefów, Biłgoraj County in Lublin Voivodeship Villages:... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Wawer Wawer Wawer is one of the districts of Warsaw, located in the south-eastern part of the city. The Vistula river runs along its western border. Wawer became a district of Warsaw on October 27, 2002 .Wawer borders Praga Południe and Rembertów from the north, Wesoła from the east and Wilanów with Mokotów... |
|
| Warszawa Praga Południe | |
| Warszawa Praga Północ | |
| Warszawa Praga Południe | |
| Warszawa Śródmieście | |
| Warszawa Śródmieście | |
| Warszawa Ochota Ochota Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice... |
|
| Warszawa Zachodnia Warszawa Zachodnia station Warszawa Zachodnia station is a railway and long-distance bus station in Warsaw, Poland on the border of Ochota and Wola dzielnicas. The railway station is the most westerly station on the Warsaw Cross-City Line... |
Warszawa Ochota Ochota Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice... |
| Warszawa Włochy | |
| Warszawa Ursus Ursus Ursus is Latin for "bear". In this form it refers to a male bear or the species regardless of gender; the specifically female form is Ursa. The word may also refer to:* Ursus , praefectus urbi of Constantinople in 415-416... |
|
| Piastów Piastów Piastów is a town in central Poland, near Warsaw, with 23,331 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship ; previously, it was in Warszawa Voivodship... |
|
| Pruszków Pruszków Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area... |
Line ‹S2› (Warszawa Zachodnia – Warszawa Śródmieście – Sulejówek)
The line was established in July 2006 running from PruszkówPruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
through Warszawa Śródmieście
Warszawa Sródmiescie PKP station
Warsaw Śródmieście is a railway station in Warsaw, Poland in the district of Śródmieście. The station serves the suburban tracks of the Warsaw Cross-City Line, used by regional trains run by Koleje Mazowieckie and Szybka Kolej Miejska...
to Sulejówek Miłosna. In December 2010 the line was shortened to Warszawa Zachodnia in the West, with the line S1 taking over the route from Pruszków
Pruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
to Warszawa Zachodnia and further to Warszawa Śródmieście
Warszawa Sródmiescie PKP station
Warsaw Śródmieście is a railway station in Warsaw, Poland in the district of Śródmieście. The station serves the suburban tracks of the Warsaw Cross-City Line, used by regional trains run by Koleje Mazowieckie and Szybka Kolej Miejska...
.
| Station | District/Town |
|---|---|
| Warszawa Zachodnia Warszawa Zachodnia station Warszawa Zachodnia station is a railway and long-distance bus station in Warsaw, Poland on the border of Ochota and Wola dzielnicas. The railway station is the most westerly station on the Warsaw Cross-City Line... |
Warszawa Ochota Ochota Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice... |
| Warszawa Ochota Ochota Ochota is a district of Warsaw, Poland, located in the central part of the Polish capital city's urban agglomeration.The biggest housing estates of Ochota are:* Kolonia Lubeckiego* Kolonia Staszica* Filtry* Rakowiec* Szosa Krakowska* Szczęśliwice... |
|
| Warszawa Śródmieście | |
| Warszawa Śródmieście | |
| Warszawa Praga Południe | |
| Warszawa Praga Północ | |
| Warszawa Rembertów Rembertów Rembertów is a district of the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Between 1939 and 1957 Rembertów was a separate town, after which it was incorporated as part of the borough of Praga Południe. Between 1994 and 2002 it formed a separate commune of Warszawa-Rembertów... |
|
| Warszawa Wesoła | |
| Warszawa Wesoła | |
| Sulejówek Sulejówek Sulejówek is a town in Poland, about 18 km east of Warsaw city centre and part of its metropolitan area. It is located in Masovian Voivodeship, in Mińsk County... |
|
| Sulejówek Sulejówek Sulejówek is a town in Poland, about 18 km east of Warsaw city centre and part of its metropolitan area. It is located in Masovian Voivodeship, in Mińsk County... |
Line ‹S9› (Warszawa Gdańska – Legionowo)
The line was established in March 2010, running between Warszawa GdańskaWarszawa Gdanska station
Warszawa Gdańska station is a railway station in northern Warsaw, Poland....
and Legionowo
Legionowo railway station
Legionowo railway station is a railway station in Legionowo, Poland. As of 2011, it is served by Koleje Mazowieckie , Szybka Kolej Miejska and PKP Intercity.-References:*Station article at - External links :...
with some trains reaching Wieliszew
Wieliszew
Wieliszew is a village in Legionowo County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland, in the bifurcation of the Vistula and Narew Rivers. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wieliszew...
. It is operated by Koleje Mazowieckie
Koleje Mazowieckie
Koleje Mazowieckie is a regional rail operator in the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland.- History :The company was founded in 2004 as a joint venture of the Masovian Voivodeship, with 51% shares, and the, then government-owned, PKP Przewozy Regionalne, with 49% shares, to handle local passenger...
and, from 5 september 2011, SKM Warszawa.
| Station | District/Town |
|---|---|
| Warszawa Gdańska Warszawa Gdanska station Warszawa Gdańska station is a railway station in northern Warsaw, Poland.... |
Warszawa Śródmieście Sródmiescie Śródmieście is a Polish word for "city centre". In particular it may refer to the following designated districts:* Śródmieście, Warsaw* Śródmieście, Gdańsk* Śródmieście, Gdynia* Śródmieście, Katowice* Śródmieście, Szczecin* Śródmieście, Wrocław... |
| Warszawa Praga Północ | |
| Warszawa Targówek Targówek Targówek is a district in Warsaw, Poland located in the northern part of the city.It is divided into two parts: residential and industrial. About 30% of the district's area is covered by municipal parks, such as Lasek Bródnowski, Park Bródnowski and Park Wiecha in the eastern part of the district... |
|
| Warszawa Targówek/Białołęka | |
| Warszawa Białołęka | |
| Warszawa Białołęka | |
| Warszawa Białołęka | |
| Legionowo Legionowo Legionowo is a town in Masovia . According to the 2004 Census estimate the town has a total population of 50,759.Legionowo is located ca. 23 km to the north-east of the center of Warsaw and only 7 km to the south of Zegrze Reservoir , near the Warsaw-Gdańsk railroad and Warsaw-Suwałki... |
|
| Legionowo Legionowo Legionowo is a town in Masovia . According to the 2004 Census estimate the town has a total population of 50,759.Legionowo is located ca. 23 km to the north-east of the center of Warsaw and only 7 km to the south of Zegrze Reservoir , near the Warsaw-Gdańsk railroad and Warsaw-Suwałki... |
|
| Michałów | |
| Wieliszew Kolonia Wieliszew Wieliszew is a village in Legionowo County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland, in the bifurcation of the Vistula and Narew Rivers. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wieliszew... |