Possibilities for short-term improvements Strengthening the interchange points Dr. Jürgen Murach, Senate of Berlin 2 nd Polish-German Interregional Roundtable Lódz, 31.05.2012
First Rail Baltica meeting with Mr. Christian Gaebler in in Vilnius May 2007. (Headquarter of Lithuanian Railways). Mr. Gaebler (up to 2011 member of parliament) is now new Vice-Minister of Transport of Federal State of Berlin RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
Infrastructure projects in Rail Baltica Corridor: The Y-Project was stopped and postponed by new government No activities in modernisation of trucks between Thuszcz and Lithuanian border Kazlų Rūda Šeštokai Szczecin Białystok Gorzów Poznań Warszawa Berlin Kalisz Zielona Góra Łódź Y-Project, Highspeed-Line and upgraded Lines (160km/h) Extension of Y-Project to Berlin, discussed Corridor The existing Rail Baltica Wrocław RGBC Kick-off Meeting Helsinki, 09.06.2011 Ostbahn via Krzyż Wielkopolski 3
We cannot wait until 2030 or longer! First cheap improvements must be realized until 2020! Kaunas Kazlų Rūda Šeštokai Szczecin Gorzów Thuczsz Poznań Warszawa Berlin Łódź Zielona Góra 160 km/h 140 km/h 120 km/h Wrocław 81 100 km/h 61 80 km/h 50 60 km/h RGBC Kick-off Meeting Helsinki, 09.06.2011 4
Mockava - Šestokai: rail infrastructure 2007 (left side) 2011 (right side) Passenger trains Kaunus - Vilnius: 2007 (left side) 2011 (right side) In Lithuania short term improvements inside the RGBC corridor were done!
Three examples for short term improvements: Better accessibility of Łodz to Poznań and Berlin using the existing infrastructure (without Y-Project) Reactivating of the connecting bend in Suwałki, connecting bend in Olecko and grade crossing with barriers in the north of Białystok Replacement of the interface AC/DC between PLK and DB Netz from border line to Frankfurt/Odra passenger station RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
Railway axis Berlin-Warsaw Łódz: Current situation Dense offer of interregional trains (TLK/IR) from and to Warszaw, huge investments: - Modernisation of tracks (160 km/h) until 2013 ł - Purchase and operation of modern bilevel railcars with high capacity until 2014 - Reconstruction of Łódz Fabryczna station as new underground railway node until 2015 Future central airport might be located between Warszaw and Łódz 7
Railway axis Berlin-Warsaw Łódz: Current situation Travel to all other directions less attractive few direct connections, long travel times Connections from and to Poznan via Kutno (travel time: approx. 3:10-4 hours, road travel time: approx. 2:15) Mostly change of trains required, but timetables are not optimised Direct route via Kalisz and Ostrów Wielkopolski served only by regional trains (travel time: approx. 4:45) Deficits in the missing integration of Łódz in RGBC corridor have historical and political reasons 8
Rail Network between Łodz an Poznań 1914 We cannot wait until 2030 or longer! First cheap improvements must be realized until 2020! Germany Torun Russian Empire Alexandrowa Poznań Kutno Warszawa Łódź RGBC Kick-off Meeting Helsinki, 09.06.2011 9
We cannot wait until 2030 or longer! First cheap improvements must be realized until 2020! New rail lines (green) in Poland 1920-1939 Torun Alexandrowa Poznań Kutno Warszawa Łódź RGBC Kick-off Meeting Helsinki, 09.06.2011 10
Łodz Kutno A compare of travel times in the archive of time tables shows: Between 1990-2012 now investments were done to maintain and remont rail infrastructure between Łodz and Kutno were done. RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
PKP Time Table 1990: EX 1510 Pomorzanin Travel time Lodz - Kutno: 0:50 hours V (average) = 83 km/h PKP Time Table 2012: TLK 15538 Travel time Lodz - Kutno: 1:21 hours RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012 V (average) = 58 km/h
Railway axis Berlin-Warsaw Łódz: To do s Regional authorities and long-distance service operators: Optimise the correspondance connections to Poznan in Kutno! Infrastructure operators: Revitalise the railway line Lódz-Kutno and improve the quality of Kutno as change station! Travel Time Łódz- Kutno: 1:20 hours After improving to speed-level 120 km/h: 0:43 hours After impoving to speed-level 160 km/h: 0:31 hours Reduction of waiting time in Kutno: up to 0:45 hours 13
Together: Time table optimization + Improvement can reduce travel time up to 90 minutes without expensive investments! TLK trains Łodz - Kutno - Toruń - Bydgosz and IC(EC) - trains Warszawa - Kutno - Poznań (- Berlin) should have System Correspondance at the same platform in Kutno RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
Olecko station Suwałki station Investments in new rail connecting bends to avoid the change of direction in Suwałki and Olecko and investments in new rail crossing barriers could reduce travel time between Białystok and Lithuania 40-60 minutes. RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
Railway axis Berlin-Warsaw Berlin-Frankfurt/Oder-Poznan: To do s Infrastructure operators: Move the AC/DC - Interface of electrical systems to Frankfurt/Oder passenger station! AC/DC - Interface is outside passenger station near the borderline (Bridge of Odra). Polish regional DC motor coaches can not go to Frankfurt/Oder. Connections to German Regional-Express towards Berlin and airport station are not possible! 16
Learning from connection Cologne - Aachen - Brussels: In Aachen (German border station) AC/DC electric system can be switched at the platform during the stop in Aachen. All Belgian regional train can go to Aachen and can be connected integrated in the German regional express system. RGBC interregional German-Polish round table Lodz, 30.05.2012
Thank you for your attention! Dziekuję za uwagę! Dr. Jürgen Murach, Senate of Berlin juergen.murach@senstadtum.berlin.de
Final Conference Rail Baltica Growth Corridor in Berlin 13. - 14. June 2013 RGBC Kick-off Meeting Helsinki, 09.06.2011
13. June: Presentation and discussion of all results of WP s 14. June (Friday): Political discussion with VIP s (mayors, members of parliaments, representatives from national transport ministries, railway companies, chamber of commerce... Message: 1: Railway must have higher priority in transport policy of all members states of RGBC 2. Rail Baltica must be more part of national infrastructure plan. 3. Discussion of a catalogues of improvements (short term and long Term + vision) 15. June (Saturday): Special train Berlin Kaunas as a part of communication strategy Demonstration : It could be possible today to reach Baltic States from Berlin in one Daylight-connection if some little improvements would be realized.
Kaunas: Rail Baltica Festival in the station at the time when the special train arrives in the station: Passenger of the special train Berlin Kaunas Participants of the Final Conference and VIP s: (40-50) A mixed Berlin group of parliament an administration visiting all partner up to Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki and St. Petersburg (40-50) TV Teams and Journalist of all partner (30-30) Management of Railway Companies, tourist agencies and logistic partner (30-50) NGO s supporting Railway, and Environment (40-50)
Special train Rail Baltica Express Berlin - Warszawa Wschodnia: Using first Berlin-Warszawa Express If possible with 2-3 additional cars (1 conference car from PKP Intercity) Berlin Hbf dep.: 06:50 Warszawa Wschodnia arriv: 12:25 Departure of the special train: 12:40 case 1: modern motor coach case 2: Locomotive train, 3-4 cars (1 dining car) case 3: locomotive train 3-4 cars, 2-3 cars from Berlin-Warszawa-Express
Białystok arriv. 13:55 Musik band event Białystok dep.: 14:05 Šeštokai arrival: 17:35 (MEZ) Special train from Lithunian Railway Šeštokai depart.: Kaunas arriv.: 20:09 18:40 (Eastern Time)
Kaunas: Rail Baltica Festival in the station at the time when the special train arrives in the station: Passenger of the special train Berlin Kaunas Participants of the Final Conference and VIP s: (40-50) A mixed Berlin group of parliament an administration visiting all partner up to Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki and St. Petersburg (40-50) TV Teams and Journalist of all partner (30-30) Management of Railway Companies, tourist agencies and logistic partner (30-50) NGO s supporting Railway, and Environment (40-50)