Budimex will build 8 km of a new tram line in Warsaw
It is the most important tramway investment in Warsaw. In less than two years, the residents of the capital will travel the route from Wilanów to Śródmieście in less than 30 minutes.
‘As announced, we have found additional funds for this important investment. At the last session, the councillors allocated PLN 200 million for the recapitalisation of the company and it was possible to sign the contract for the construction of the tramway to Wilanów. The new route will allow the residents of this district to quickly and comfortably reach the city centre on green tracks and as many as 488 trees will be planted along the route. The cost of the construction is over PLN 685 million, but it will be co-financed by the EU. A friendly Warsaw means easily accessible public transport, so we will successively extend the tram network in the capital. We are already working on the documentation for the tramway along Pola Mokotowskie and Modlińska street and on the construction plans for the route to Gocław and Zielona Białołęka’, says Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw.
‘This is one of the largest tramway investments currently underway in Poland and at the same time a big step towards the development of low-emission public transport in Warsaw. We have very extensive experience in tramway investments. In recent years, we have successfully constructed new tram lines in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Krakow and Olsztyn’, says Artur Popko, President of Budimex SA.
‘The final deadline for this investment in its basic scope is the end of January 2024. The commencement of works is planned within 5 months from the date of signing the contract. Within the scope of the basic task, we will construct 8 km of tram line and 4 junctions. The scope of works includes, e.g. the construction of drainage, reconstruction of the rainwater and sanitary sewage system, water mains, gas mains, heat pipeline, reconstruction of the power and telecommunications network, construction of the traction network, construction of lighting, reconstruction of traffic lights and construction of three traction substations’, adds the President of Budimex.
‘Our experience in the execution of contracts across Poland confirms that we keep our promises and build with consideration for the needs of our stakeholders. We have very extensive experience in the execution of contracts in urban areas, in which the adjustment of the construction area to changes in traffic organisation plays a key role. This is also how we are managing other investments in the capital city: construction of the Vistula collector for MPWiK (Municipal Water and Sewerage Company), Warszawa Zachodnia station, including an underground tramway stop, and construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge on the Vistula River’, adds Artur Popko.
Budimex is the largest Polish construction company with over fifty years of tradition, which employs 7,000 people. Since 1995, the company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and since 2011 it has been included in the index of the most responsible stock exchange companies. Budimex builds every fifth kilometre of express roads in Poland, it is also currently the largest contractor in the railway construction segment.
What will the tram to Wilanów be like?
The new route will start at the junction of Puławska and Goworka streets. The reconstruction will also cover the existing section of the tram route from Rakowiecka Street to Plac Unii Lubelskiej. The tram will cross Goworka and Spacerowa streets with a difference in elevation of as much as 22 metres in the direction of Lower Mokotów. Then the line will continue straight along Belwederska and Sobieskiego streets in the direction of Miasteczko Wilanów. A terminus for two-way trams will be located at the junction of Rzeczypospolitej and Branickiego avenues.
Two branches have been planned for the route. The first will run along Gagarina Street up to Czerniakowska Street – this is a separate investment carried out by Tramwaje Warszawskie and the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company. On this section, trams will finish their route at the terminal for two-way trams.
The stops on the new route will be adjusted to the needs of disabled persons and will be equipped with electronic information boards with timetables (boards connected to the satellite system calculating the time of trams’ journey on-line). In total, 31 stops will be created. A green wave system will operate along the entire route, thanks to which trams will not have to wait for a green light at intersections. Three new traction substations will be built as part of the project, including the first underground substation in Warsaw. Their task will be to provide trams with electricity.
Journey time
The new route means considerable time savings for those residents of Wilanów who commute to the centre of Warsaw. The tram journey from this district to the Centrum metro station will take about 30 minutes. For comparison, drivers currently have to spend up to 45 minutes on the same route during rush hour!
Deadlines
The contractor, Budimex, shall have 22 months to build the route in its basic scope, that is, from Puławska street to the junction with Św. Bonifacego street.
An option, which Tramwaje Warszawskie may decide on within 10 months of signing the contract, is to lead the entire route to Wilanów, to the junction with Branickiego street. The contractor shall have a total of 21 months to build the routes in this variant.
In mid-March, the Warsaw City Council decided to provide PLN 200 million in capital to Tramaje Warszawskie, which will be used for the construction of the tramway to Wilanów. The total price of the investment is PLN 685.424 million.
Green tracks
During the construction of the tram route to Wilanów, green track technology will be applied. The new tracks will be planted with sedum – a plant that is resistant to higher temperatures and does not require watering. The total length of the green tracks on the route to Wilanów will exceed 10 km. Today, there are more than 25 km of green tracks in Warsaw. Tramway workers focussed on greenery in the design of the tramway to Wilanów. Some solutions have never been used before in the construction of tram routes. Some of the platforms will be planted with lime trees. There will be lime and sycamore trees next to the tracks, and specially shaped trees will be planted in narrower places. A total of 488 trees will be planted along the tram route to Wilanów. The parameters of the trees will be in accordance with Warsaw’s greenery design standards.
Tracks, depots and trams
The construction of the tram route is part of a project co-financed by the European Union as part of OPI&E 2014 – 2020, which also includes the purchase of 50 new low-floor trams, the construction of a depot in Annopol and the installation of passenger information boards at stops. The official name of the project is: Construction of a tram route to Wilanów along with the purchase of rolling stock and accompanying infrastructure. Its total cost amounts to PLN 1 billion 190 million with an EU subsidy of PLN 555 million.
Tram investments in the capital city
The construction of the tramway to Wilanów is only part of the tramway investment programme for Warsaw.
At the beginning of the month, the construction of a new tram route starting at Kasprzaka St that will connect the new housing estates in Wola with the centre. Tramway workers signed a contract for the technical study needed to build a tramway on Modlińska Street and announced a tender for the design of a tramway along the Mokotów Field.
Last September, the tramway to Winnica in Białołęka was launched. Tramwaje Warszawskie has already handed over the land for the construction of a new depot in Annopol to the contractor. The first of 123 newly ordered Hyundai trams are already serving Warsaw citizens.
Work on the construction projects of other tram routes – including the route to Gocław – is in progress. Environmental approvals are also being obtained for the construction of routes to Zielona Białołęka and Wilanowska Avenue.