Gdańsk Główny railway station explained
Gdańsk Główny is the chief railway station serving the city of Gdańsk, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. The station opened in 1900 and is located on the Warsaw–Gdańsk railway, Gdańsk–Stargard railway, the parallel Gdańsk Śródmieście–Rumia railway, Gdańsk Główny–Gdańsk Zaspa Towarowa railway and Gdańsk Główny–Gdańsk Nowy Port railway. The train services are operated by PKP, Polregio and SKM Tricity. Koleje Mazowieckie trains operate here during the summer.
History
The first railway line in Gdańsk opened in 1852.[1] Around 1867, in the area of today's main railway station (Główny) a small, temporary passenger terminal Danzig Hohes Tor (Gdańsk Brama Wyżynna) was built. Access to it was only from the west, from the so-called. "Promenade" (ul. 3 Maja). To the east of the station the city separated because of the modern fortifications and moat of Gdańsk. The station could begin to expand after filling up the old moat and demolishing the western bastions.
The existing station was built between 1894 and 1900, with the official opening on 30 October 1900. The station shares its design with Colmar station in Alsace, France, which was part of the German Empire at the time as well.[2]
In 1945 the station was set on fire and was restored after World War II. The tower escaped the fire.
On 2 January 1952 the SKM Trojmiasto suburban railway was opened, parallel to the existing line between Gdańsk and Gdynia.[3]
The station features five island platforms, of which three function for the regional commuter SKM services and the other two for long-distance services and regional services. Access to the platforms is via subways from the east and west sides of the city. On the east side, the subway ends on the other side of Podwale Grodzkie street, and on the west side, it goes directly into the PKS (long-distance bus) station. Connecting tunnels enable access to the station building and tram stops, and contain shops, fast food bars, newsagents, and other kiosks.
Station building
Nowadays there is a small shopping centre on the patio, and a McDonald's and KFC inside the terminal. Ticket offices are open all day, and the station sells international as well as domestic tickets.
A copy of the Gdańsk main railway station is located in Imari on the island of Kiusiu, Japan. It was built in 1984 by a Japanese businessman Shigemi Joshida and now serves as a wedding palace.[4]
Modernisation
In the early 1990s, during the general overhaul of the train station, a two-level hall was built for shops. This did not prove popular and was demolished in 2013.
Modernisation work took place in early 2017. The work aimed to remove changes made to the northern part of the building, replace windows and doors, update the passenger information system, security systems, introduce escalators, renewed lifts and an extension of the tunnel located to the east of the station. The project also included the restoration and reintroduction of the details that had been lost or damaged as a result of World War II. In 2023, the reconstruction of the railway station was completed and cost a total of PLN 120 million.[5]
In terms of the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure, PKP PLK plans to overhaul long-distance platforms 1 and 2 and the tunnels, replace lighting (preserving their historical shapes) and installation of passenger information systems, elevators and escalators.
Train services
The station is served by the following services:
- EuroCity services (EC) (EC 95 by DB) (IC by PKP) Gdynia - Gdansk - Bydgoszcz - Poznan - Rzepin - Frankfurt (Oder) - Berlin
- EuroCity services (EC) Gdynia - Gdansk - Malbork - Warsaw - Katowice - Bohumin - Ostrava - Prerov - Breclav - Vienna[6] [7]
- Express Intercity Premium services (EIP) Gdynia - Warsaw
- Express Intercity Premium services (EIP) Gdynia - Warsaw - Katowice - Gliwice/Bielsko-Biała
- Express Intercity Premium services (EIP) Gdynia/Kołobrzeg - Warsaw - Kraków (- Rzeszów)
- Intercity services (IC) Gdynia - Gdansk - Bydgoszcz - Poznań - Wrocław - Opole - Katowice - Kraków - Rzeszów - Przemyśl[8]
- Intercity services (IC) Gdynia - Gdańsk - Bydgoszcz - Toruń - Kutno - Łódź - Częstochowa - Katowice - Bielsko-Biała[9]
- Intercity services (IC) Gdynia - Gdańsk - Bydgoszcz - Łódź - Czestochowa — Krakow — Zakopane[10]
- Intercity services (IC) Gdynia - Gdańsk - Bydgoszcz - Poznań - Zielona Góra[11] [12]
- Intercity services (IC) Gdynia - Gdańsk - Bydgoszcz - Poznań - Wrocław [13] [14]
- Intercity services (IC) Łódź Fabryczna — Warszawa — Gdańsk Glowny — Kołobrzeg[15]
- Intercity services (IC) Szczecin - Koszalin - Słupsk - Gdynia - Gdańsk[16]
- Intercity services (IC) Szczecin - Koszalin - Słupsk - Gdynia - Gdańsk - Elbląg/Iława - Olsztyn[17] [18] [19] [20]
- Intercity services (IC) Szczecin - Koszalin - Słupsk - Gdynia - Gdańsk - Elbląg - Olsztyn - Białystok[21]
- Intercity services (TLK) Gdynia Główna — Kostrzyn [22]
- Intercity services (TLK) Gdynia Główna — Warszawa — Krakow — Zakopane [23] [24]
- Intercity services (TLK) Kołobrzeg — Gdynia Główna — Warszawa Wschodnia — Kraków Główny[25]
- Regional services (R) Tczew — Gdynia Chylonia [26]
- Regional services (R) Tczew — Słupsk [27]
- Regional services (R) Malbork — Słupsk [28]
- Regional services (R) Malbork — Gdynia Chylonia [29]
- Regional services (R) Elbląg — Gdynia Chylonia [30]
- Regional services (R) Elbląg — Słupsk [31]
- Regional services (R) Chojnice — Tczew — Gdynia Główna [32]
- Regional services (R) Gdynia Chylonia — Olsztyn Główny[33]
- Regional services (R) Gdynia Chylonia — Smętowo [34]
- Regional services (R) Gdynia Chylonia — Laskowice Pomorskie [35]
- Regional services (R) Gdynia Chylonia — Bydgoszcz Główna [36]
- Regional services (R) Słupsk — Bydgoszcz Główna [37]
- Regional services (R) Gdynia Chylonia — Pruszcz Gdański [38]
- Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna services (R) Kartuzy — Gdańsk Port Lotniczy (Airport) — Gdańsk Główny [39]
- Szybka Kolej Miejska w Trójmieście services (SKM) (Lębork -) Wejherowo - Reda - Rumia - Gdynia - Sopot - Gdansk
See also
Notes and References
- http://www.skm.pkp.pl/o-nas/nasza-historia/ SKM Tricity History
- Web site: Now, that’s a TRAIN-sformation! Gdańsk railway station restored to former elegance dubbed most beautiful in Poland … and Europe! . thefirstnews.com . Alex Webber . 3 August 2023 . 5 August 2023.
- http://www.skm.pkp.pl/o-nas/nasza-historia/ SKM Tricity History
- Web site: GDANSK GŁÓWNY TRAIN STATION IN JAPAN? THE COUNTRY OF THE BLOSSOMING CHERRY HAS A COPY OF IT . whitemad.pl . Mateusz Markowski . 9 May 2024.
- Web site: Now, that’s a TRAIN-sformation! Gdańsk railway station restored to former elegance dubbed most beautiful in Poland … and Europe! . thefirtsnews.com . Alex Webber . 3 August 2023 . 5 August 2023.
- PKP Koleo. IC 107 Sobieski. Gdynia Główna — Bohumín. https://koleo.pl/en/pociag/IC/107-SOBIESKI
- Czceck Railways/České dráhy - EC 107 Sobieski Gdynia Glowna - Wien Hbf. https://www.cd.cz/vlak/107/23.1.2023/5100010/10.21/8103000/21.49/
- Koleo. PKP IC 5314 ARTUS. Gdynia Główna — Przemyśl Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/5314-ARTUS/
- Koleo. PKP IC 5420 HUTNIK. Gdynia Główna — Bielsko-Biała Główna. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/5420-HUTNIK/
- Koleo. PKP IC 5360 WITKACY. Gdynia Główna — Zakopane. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/5360-WITKACY/
- Koleo. PKP IC 57104 BACHUS. Gdynia Główna — Zielona Góra Główna. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/57104-BACHUS/
- Koleo. PKP IC 57108 STOCZNIOWIEC. Gdynia Główna — Zielona Góra Główna. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/57108-STOCZNIOWIEC/
- Koleo. PKP IC 5602 HEWELIUSZ. Gdynia Główna — Wrocław Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/5602-HEWELIUSZ/
- Koleo. PKP IC IC 5604 MIESZKO. Gdynia Główna — Wrocław Główny. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/5604-MIESZKO/
- Koleo. PKP IC 18114 POBRZEŻE Łódź Fabryczna — Kołobrzeg. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/18114-POBRZE%C5%BBE/
- Koleo. PKP IC 58100 ALBATROS Gdańsk Główny — Szczecin Główny Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/58100-ALBATROS/
- Koleo. PKP IC 58102 ŻUŁAWY. Olsztyn Główny — Szczecin Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/58102-%C5%BBU%C5%81AWY/
- Koleo. PKP IC 58104 BRYZA. Olsztyn Główny — Szczecin Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/58104-BRYZA/
- Koleo. PKP IC 58106 GRYF. Olsztyn Główny — Szczecin Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/58106-GRYF/
- Koleo. PKP IC 58108 STAŃCZYK. Olsztyn Główny — Szczecin Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/58108-STA%C5%83CZYK
- Koleo. PKP IC 18104 RYBAK Białystok — Szczecin Główny Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/IC/18104-RYBAK
- PKP TLK Gdynia Główna — Kostrzyn, Timetable. https://koleo.pl/en/pociag/TLK/58110-BORY%20TUCHOLSKIE
- Koleo. PKP TLK 53170 KARPATY Gdynia Główna — Zakopane. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/en/pociag/TLK/53170-KARPATY
- Koleo. PKP TLK 53104 MAŁOPOLSKA Gdynia Główna — Zakopane. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/en/pociag/TLK/53104-MA%C5%81OPOLSKA
- Koleo. TLK 83170 USTRONIEKołobrzeg — Kraków Główny. Timetable. https://koleo.pl/pociag/TLK/83170-USTRONIE
- Polregio. PR 55337. Tczew — Gdynia Chylonia Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/55337
- Polregio. PR 58213. Tczew — Słupsk Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/58213
- Polregio. PR 58203 Słupsk — Malbork. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/58203
- Polregio. PR 50679 Malbork — Gdynia Chylonia. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/50679
- Polregio. PR 50642 Elbląg — Gdynia Chylonia. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/50642
- Polregio. PR 85216 Słupsk — Elbląg. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/85216
- Polregio. PR 55206 Gdynia Główna — Chojnice Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/55206/14-01-2023
- Polregio. PR 90102 Gdynia Chylonia — Olsztyn Główny. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/90102
- Polregio. PR 55413. Smętowo — Gdynia Chylonia. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/55413
- Polregio. PR 55342. Gdynia Chylonia — Laskowice Pomorskie. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/55342
- Polregio. PR 50471. Bydgoszcz Główna — Gdynia Główna. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/50471
- Polregio. PR 85202. Słupsk — Bydgoszcz Główna. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/85202
- Polregio. PR 55368 Gdynia Chylonia — Pruszcz Gdański. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/55368
- Polregio. PR 96554. Kartuzy — Gdańsk Główny. Timetable. https://bilety.polregio.pl/pociag/REG/96554