The investment lasted just over a year and a half. During this time, one of the most complex projects was carried out. It covered the buildings of the so-called Old and New Stations, part of the pedestrian footbridge over the tracks, and the shelters adjoining the stations. As a result, the so-called New Station, dating from 1865, regained its historic splendour. The richly detailed brick façade underwent comprehensive renovation. It features floral patterns, Corinthian-style columns and animal figures, including eagles. The clocks in the upper sections of the façade were reconstructed. Attention is also drawn to the graphite-coloured cast-iron columns with decorated capitals, which support the shelter with skylights adjoining the station. The overall effect is highlighted at night by new building illumination.
The interior of the station is equally impressive. The passenger service area is located on the ground floor, in the western part of the building, in the former third- and fourth-class waiting hall. Passengers will find a spacious, bright waiting hall with lighting referring to the station’s historic character. It is equipped with benches, timetable display cases and electronic train arrival and departure boards. A special children’s area, located behind a glass display window, is also a new feature. The passenger service area also includes toilets and a small rental unit. The eastern part of the building is equally interesting. The former first- and second-class waiting hall now houses an intimate cinema hall and exhibition space. It also contains a post of the Railway Protection Guard.
– Thanks to the cooperation of the railway companies, an excellent result has been achieved in the form of the modernised Węgliniec station complex. I am convinced that this historic station, dating from the 19th century, will serve passengers well and meet all their expectations, and that, thanks to the cultural zone operated by the local government, it will also become a meeting place for residents – said Maciej Małecki, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets.
– The opening of Węgliniec station is another element of the major modernisation of the Polish railway. Residents of another city with rich railway traditions will gain access to safe and comfortable railway infrastructure. I hope that the modernised historic station building will become Węgliniec’s landmark, a centre of the local community, and make it easier for passengers to travel by rail throughout the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. All this is possible thanks to the Station Investment Programme, under which the Polish government will allocate over PLN 2 billion by 2023 to modernise nearly 200 stations – said Andrzej Bittel, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure.
– The rebuilt Węgliniec station complex is not only a group of magnificent historic buildings. It is also a comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly railway station meeting modern passenger service standards, as well as a space where passengers and residents will find a cinema and exhibition hall operated by the local government. The cooperation and coordination of work with PKP PLK S.A. should also be emphasised in the implementation of this investment, as it made it possible to achieve such a fantastic final result – said Ireneusz Maślany, member of the management board of PKP S.A.
Thanks to the investment, the station has become accessible to people with disabilities and safer. Architectural barriers were removed and a range of new solutions was introduced to make it easier for this group of passengers to use the station. These include Braille markings, tactile boards with a station plan and guiding paths. Safety has improved both inside the building and in its immediate surroundings. Modern video surveillance, access control, burglar and assault alarm, and fire protection systems were installed.
The station is also more environmentally friendly. Thanks to window and door joinery recreated based on the historic design, as well as insulation installed internally, it consumes less energy. Energy-efficient lighting and heat pumps were also used. An intelligent building management system (BMS), which supervises the operation of equipment and installations, also helps optimise the consumption of thermal and electrical energy and water.
In addition to the so-called New Station building, the Old Station, built in 1846, was also reconstructed. Its appearance resembles a defensive castle with two symmetrical towers, each 18.6 metres high. The building’s façade was renovated and a number of architectural details, including rustication and cornices, were recreated. The clock and a small loggia resting on stylish columns with a balustrade featuring floral motifs also attract attention. The interior of the former station was adapted for offices for railway companies.
The reconstruction of the Węgliniec station complex also included a small historic building that once housed goods ticket offices. It has become a bicycle station with racks and a bicycle washing point. The investment also included modifications to the entrance to the footbridge over the tracks leading towards the town, which can be accessed by lift. Elements of street furniture were also installed in the vicinity of the station.
PKP S.A.:
Cooperation with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. was extremely important in carrying out the investment. The infrastructure manager carried out, among other things, work related to designing and constructing a ramp from the pedestrian footbridge towards Kolejowa Street, as well as platform edges adjacent to the Węgliniec station building. Thanks to these measures, the station complex is fully adapted to serve people with disabilities. In addition, PKP PLK S.A. also reconstructed the remaining platforms at Węgliniec station, together with their technical infrastructure.
The company adds:
The reconstruction of the Węgliniec station complex is the 17th completed station reconstruction in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship under the Station Investment Programme for 2016–2023. The total cost of the investment was just over PLN 41 million gross. The investor was Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A., while PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. was responsible for the platform shelters, modifications to the footbridge entrance and the lift. The construction works were carried out by Berger Bau Polska Sp. z o.o. of Wrocław, while the reconstruction design for the station complex was prepared by TPF Sp. z o.o. of Warsaw; investor supervision was provided by SAFAGE SAS of Warsaw.