Work begins on Warsaw West

The new structure will replace the old one on Al. Jerozolimskie and will be adjacent to the West Station office complex, which will be the new headquarters of state railway operator PKP and its subsidiaries. Both projects are being developed in a partnership between PKP and Slovak company HB Reavis, with a subsidiary of the latter, HB Reavis Construction, being the general contractor of the project. The PKP group companies are also the first few tenants of West Station and include PKP S.A., PKP Informatyka and PKP Intercity, occupying app. half of the first stage of the 30,000 sqm complex. The station building itself will have an area of 1,250 sqm. There are no plans to demolish the current station building facing ul. Tunelowa, which will continue to function during the construction work. The new building, facing Al. Jerozolimskie, will be adjusted to the needs of the disabled. Each of the ticket offices will have a lowered top surface, designed for serving people in wheelchairs. The station will also have two paths for the blind and visually impaired, specially adjusted toilets and designated parking spaces in front of the station. The building will also include lifts and escalators. The facilities for those of reduced mobility have been approved in an audit of the design documentation carried out by the ‘Integracja’ association. The hall will have six ticket offices, selling both train and city public transport tickets. Special areas will be designated for ticket and cash machines in the station as well as the tunnel. Parking spaces for passengers will also be created, with more than 30 kiss & ride spaces provided in front of the station building, as well as spaces reserved for taxis. Improvements are planned for the grounds of the station, including an extension of a cycle path connecting it to the centre of Warsaw as well as the redevelopment of the junction of Al. Jerozolimskie and ul. ppłk. Mieczysława Skołowskiego ‘Grzymały’. “The new station should be finished in a year’s time. This modern facility will constitute the first element of a transfer hub being developed in this part of Warsaw,” explains Jarosław Bator, a board member at PKP. So far HB Reavis has renovated a fragment of the subway at the station. The renovation work completed has so far involved the redevelopment of the reinforced concrete structure, replacing the flooring and the construction of a ramp, with wall and ceiling cladding to be carried out in the future as well the installation of new light and visual information systems in the tunnel. In accordance with the plan the redevelopment of the new station is to finish in Q4 2015. The construction of Dworzec Zachodni will be accompanied by the work on the West Station office complex, comprising two thirteen-storey buildings with a gross leasable area of 67,000 sqm and a three-level underground car park with 130 public parking spaces. The first stage of the complex should be finished in Q4 2016 and the second in H1 2018. HB Reavis is planning to obtain a BREEAM certificate at the ‘Excellent’ level for the project. The architectural concept of the station as well as the office building has been prepared by FS&P Arcus.