Over the past few years, Polish State Railways has spent around PLN 1 billion on the modernisation of nearly 90 railway stations. The new facilities have ceased to serve solely a transport function, becoming places where one can shop, meet friends, and also take care of the most urgent matters completely unrelated to travel. This new trend is particularly evident in large cities, but it is also reaching smaller towns such as Konin and Olsztyn, where such facilities are set to be built in the near future. The refurbished station halls are designed to meet the needs not only of travellers but also of local residents, who, with the opening of these modernised spaces, often gain the opportunity to take part in cultural and entertainment events.
Across the length and breadth of Poland…
In recent years, the openings of stations in cities such as Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, Sopot and Katowice have been met with particular excitement. Reconstruction and refurbishment work has also taken place in Gdańsk (Gdańsk Wrzeszcz), Warsaw West (where a thorough modernisation is still planned) and Bydgoszcz. In all these places, efforts were made to provide residents with comfortable and safe facilities that also serve as transport hubs and the city’s representative ‘gateway’. Was this successful?
- As far as the paving is concerned, we can say it was a 100% success. Products from Polbruk were used, among other things, to construct the paving at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, Warszawa Wschodnia and Bydgoszcz Leśna stations. Polbruk’s pavers and slabs were also used to construct the squares in front of the main stations in Gdynia and Warsaw West, although the products used often differed significantly from one another, featuring different styles and components,” says Wojciech Średniawa, Chief Designer at Polbruk S.A. The use of paving blocks and small concrete architectural elements has now become standard practice in the construction of surfaces in areas with heavy traffic. This is all down to the durability of this material, as well as the role it plays – acting as a link between the designer’s vision and the client’s requirements. PKP buildings can vary greatly in design, ranging from brick structures that retain their original style and character, through standardised station buildings (such as the one in Ciechanów), to modern, minimalist buildings with extensive glazing. In all these cases, there is a need for proven solutions that offer a wide range of design possibilities.
Different pavers, different purposes
For example, to modernise the platforms at Warszawa Wschodnia station, pavers with a washed texture were used Napoli, whose rough surface faithfully replicates the appearance of real stone. An additional advantage of this product is its non-slip properties. In turn, the area around the entrance to Warszawa Zachodnia station was paved with Polbruk Urbanika slabs, which, as a large-format product, are ideal for covering large areas. – Based on our experience, we can confidently say that pavers are a very ‘flexible’ material, meaning they can adapt to investors’ expectations and meet users’ requirements – says Wojciech Średniawa.
Polbruk, as the largest manufacturer of concrete pavers and road elements on the Polish market, has been involved in the process of transforming Poland’s railway infrastructure for many years. The company’s products are successfully used for paving platforms, waiting rooms and areas around buildings.
Contact:
Agnieszka Rakowska, Senior Marketing Specialist
tel.: 607 500 593
