The hall that housed the so-called PKP Cargo rolling stock maintenance facility is located next to Koleje Dolnośląskie’s main depot. The facility was built in the 1980s on land with a rich railway tradition. Even before the war, a locomotive depot stood there. Since 1 August this year, the depot has been operated by Koleje Dolnośląskie, which leased it from PKP S.A.
What are the benefits for Koleje Dolnośląskie?
The depot taken over includes a 57-metre-long hall with adjoining grounds and smaller buildings, five tracks for servicing diesel rolling stock, 450 sq m of potential office space in the main hall, and a further 500 sq m of storage space, including social facilities. Importantly, the hall is also equipped with an overhead crane and a wheel-drop pit.
Renovation of the hall will begin soon. If the work proceeds as planned, it will begin serving Koleje Dolnośląskie in November this year.
– The hall will be used to service diesel rolling stock. There are more ideas for using the considerable space and adjoining facilities, but for now we are focusing on the most urgent work so that we can start making use of the potential of this space as soon as possible and begin the first inspections before winter, perhaps using equipment that is already installed in the hall, if it successfully passes its technical inspection – says Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.
Taking over the depot by Koleje Dolnośląskie means that new jobs will need to be created. Recruitment will begin soon. It is worth adding that KD has already taken on several employees of the former PKP Cargo facility.
From Miłkowice to a modern hall in Legnica
Between 2010 and 2018, Koleje Dolnośląskie serviced its vehicles in a more than 100-year-old hall in Miłkowice near Legnica. Seven years ago, a service hall on Pątnowska Street was commissioned at a cost of PLN 12 million, on the site of the former passenger-car stabling section at Legnica station.
It quickly became clear that the rapidly developing operator needed a considerably larger and more modern facility. In 2023, a new service hall on Pątnowska Street was opened, with a total area of 6,500 sq m, three 120-metre-long tracks, one track intended for a year-round automatic wash, an underfloor wheel lathe on a separate track, above-ground and underground technical infrastructure, and fuel tanks and dispensers. The project was carried out with support from the European Union under the Regional Operational Programme. The total construction cost was PLN 75 million.