Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway

The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (Polish: Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna, PKM), is a railway in the Tricity area connecting Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport with Wrzeszcz. The line was officially opened by the Prime minister of Poland Ewa Kopacz on 30 August 2015[1] and regular train services started on 1 September 2015. The line is owned by the Pomeranian Voivodeship and managed by the Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna, a company wholly owned by the voivodeship. Services on the line are provided by Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) and Polregio.

Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway
Gdańsk Jasień stop on the PKM line
Overview
Statusoperational
OwnerPKP PLK and PKM
Line number248, 253, 234 (under construction)
LocaleTricity region
Termini
Stations11
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Service
Operator(s)Polregio, SKM Tricity (until 2022)
History
Opened1 September 2015 (2015-09-01)
Technical
Line length19.5 km (12.1 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification3 kV DC (since 2023)
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Train protection systemETCS level 2
Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna
km
 202  to Gdańsk Główny
0.000
 Gdańsk Wrzeszcz
al. Grunwaldzka
2.193
 Gdańsk Strzyża
3.830
 Gdańsk Niedźwiednik
Słowackiego
5.282
 Gdańsk Brętowo
Migowska Struga
7.374
 Gdańsk Jasień
Potok Jasień
8.861
 Gdańsk Kiełpinek
Kiełpińska Struga
Tricity Ringroad
 234 
to Gdańsk Kokoszki
(under construction)
Strzyża
11.666
 Gdańsk Matarnia
12.801
Gdańsk Firoga
(under construction)
14.572
 Gdańsk Port Lotniczy
15.256
 Gdańsk Rębiechowo
 253  →  201  to Kościerzyna
18.246
 Gdańsk Osowa
PKM
 201 
n/a
 Gdynia Karwiny
n/a
 Gdynia Stadion
 201  to Gdynia Główna
km

The PLM runs on two lines officially designated by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe as PKP rail lines 248 and 253. PKP rail line 248 was constructed on the right-of-way of a pre-war line from Stara Piła to Wrzeszcz, which was blown up by the retreating Germans near the end of World War II. At its northern end, the line connects with the existing, non-electrified line 253 to Gdynia, via Gdańsk Osowa and Wielki Kack. An advantage of re-opening this connection is that no buildings have had to be torn down, as the right-of-way of the old line is undisturbed and has not been encroached on anywhere.[2]

The PKM line is 19.5 km long and connects at both ends with the SKM line which is the principal transportation corridor in the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity area. Whereas the SKM line runs close to the shore of the Baltic Sea, the PKM lies further inland.[3]

The Pomeranian Voivodeship describes the PKM as 'the greatest project (epokowa inwestycja) in the 12-year history of the Pomeranian Voivodeship,'[4] pointing out that never before in its history has the Pomeranian government undertaken a project costing over 700 million zł (over $200 million).

The PKM has 11 stations and stops along the route, the twelfth is being built and due to open in 2023.[5] The company also owns and operates further two stops, Gdynia Karwiny and Gdynia Stadion, located on the section of line 201 connecting Gdańsk Osowa and Gdynia Główna.[6] The line has only been recently electrified at the national standard of 3 kV DC, though regular service is still provided by ten DMUs that were ordered from Pesa SA of Bydgoszcz costing 114 million zł ($34 million).[7][8]

The PKM uses the European Train Control System Level 2 signalling system.

History
One of the most famous preserved elements of line 248, Weisel's Viaduct (pl:Wiadukt Weisera), pictured in December 2011. Demolished on 5 June 2013 as part of the construction of the PKM line.

The contract for construction of the PKM was signed on 7 May 2013.[9] All construction works were completed by 30 June 2015.

In December 2020 the company awarded a contract to design and build a 1.5 km railway link between Gdańsk Kiełpinek and Gdańsk Kokoszki. The line will follow the alignment of the old railway line 234 that has been partly lifted in the past. The line is due to be reopened by late 2023.[10]

Electrification works on the line started in June 2021 and were completed in 2023;[11] a new stop, Gdańsk Firoga, was also built as part of the same contract.[5] Gdansk Firoga stop opened in December 2022.[12]

Future plans

The company is considering extending its services towards the south, it may involve taking over and renewing existing disused railway line or building new one(s).[13]

Rolling stock
Type Class No. of cars Image Number Notes
Pesa 218Mc SA133 2 3 Operated by Polregio
Pesa 219M SA 136 3 7

References
  1. "Rusza Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna. Połączy Trójmiasto z Kaszubami" (in Polish). 30 August 2015.
  2. "Revolution in Gdańsk (Rewolucja w Gdańsku?)" (in Polish). Retrieved 28 April 2006.
  3. "PKM Maps", PKM (in Polish).
  4. "Epokowa inwestycja Województwa Pomorskiego", PKM (in Polish).
  5. "Rozpoczęła się elektryfikacja linii PKM" [Electrification of PKM line commenced]. PKM (in Polish). 15 June 2021.
  6. "Z nowych przystanków PKM Gdynia Stadion i Gdynia Karwiny już korzystają pasażerowie" [New PKM stops Gdynia Stadion and Gdynia Karwiny open for passengers]. PKM (in Polish). 18 December 2017.
  7. "Jutro umowa na pojazdy Pesy dla PKM". Rynek Kolejowy (in Polish). 1 September 2014.
  8. "Podpisano umowę na dostawę taboru dla PKM", Rynek Kolejowy (in Polish). 2 September 2014.
  9. "Budowa Pomorskiej kolei metropolitalnej na finiszu" PKM (in Polish).
  10. "PKM SA podpisała umowę na realizację tzw. "bajpasu kartuskiego" z gdyńską firmą Torhamer" [PKM signed contract to build so-called "Karuzy bypass" with Torhamer of Gdynia]. PKM (in Polish). 22 December 2020.
  11. {{cite web |title= https://www.pkm-sa.pl/tag/elektryfikacja/
  12. {{cite web |title=https://www.gdansk.pl/wiadomosci/Przystanek-PKM-Gdansk-Firoga-Dwa-docelowe-perony-wlasnie-oddano-do-uzytku,a,234197
  13. "PKM Południe" [PKM South]. PKM (in Polish).
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