Today’s press conference, “Reconstruction after the Flood – Greater Railway Potential in Lower Silesia,” provided answers to questions concerning, among other things, the development of the region and its railway system, as well as progress in rebuilding infrastructure after last year’s flood. Importantly, meetings in Kłodzko and Polanica-Zdrój repeatedly highlighted the importance of Lower Silesia on Poland’s map and announced billion-zloty investments in regional transport.

The voivodeship was visited by Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Monika Wielichowska, who comes from Nowa Ruda; Marcin Kierwiński, a member of the Council of Ministers responsible for activities in areas affected by the flood; Piotr Malepszak, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure responsible for railways; and Michał Jaros, Deputy Minister of Development and Technology.

An Expanding Connection Network

In recent years, the voivodeship’s local government has restored railway connections to towns inhabited by more than 200,000 Lower Silesians, and in the coming years the railway network will reach towns where 50,000 people live. The dynamic development of regional rail is a key element of the voivodeship’s strategy—in terms of tourism as well as educational and economic mobility.

Efficient connections allow Lower Silesia’s residents to quickly reach jobs, schools and universities in major urban centres such as Wrocław. “Instead of debating, we are implementing concrete projects in Lower Silesia. This is why we are effective in building Poland’s infrastructure hub. In this term alone, half a billion zlotys has already been allocated to railway-line construction, while investments in new rolling stock amount to 700 million zlotys. This week alone, new trains worth nearly 300 million zlotys were purchased; they will soon arrive, among other places, in Karpacz and Stronie Śląskie,” stresses Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Ministry representatives echoed the marshal’s remarks.

“When we think of Lower Silesia, we say: Koleje Dolnośląskie,” said Piotr Malepszak, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure responsible for railways. “The number of passengers travelling around Lower Silesia continues to grow, and that is encouraging,” he added.

Earlier, Minister Marcin Kierwiński listed numerous investments being carried out in the Kłodzko Land. “Four billion zlotys has already gone to this area,” the minister said.

The Fastest Regional Trains in Poland

Koleje Dolnośląskie currently operates the fastest regional trains in Poland—from Wrocław to Kłodzko, the journey takes about an hour, and to Kudowa-Zdrój, two hours. But that is not all: residents of the voivodeship travel on the fastest trains connecting its capital with the region’s four largest cities.

“Wrocław–Kłodzko in one hour, Wrocław–Kudowa-Zdrój in two hours. Kłodzko Land has very fast connections with the capital of Lower Silesia, which is important both for tourism and from a socio-economic perspective, because residents of the southern part of the voivodeship can travel comfortably and quickly to the region’s largest city,” says Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.

In this term alone, Lower Silesia ordered new trains with a total value of PLN 700 million.