Rail links to town are improving

I seem to be using Koleje Mazowieckie more and more often to get into town, and I'm not alone; there seems to be increasing passenger traffic on this line. I'd attribute this to three reasons - new trains, new stations, and growing frustration with korki (traffic jams - literally, 'corks').

New trains: the infamous Bombardier double deckers that were 'too tall for the tunnel' (above, pictured at ul. Karnawał level crossing). As a result the all-stations-from-Radom no longer stops at W-wa Ochota or Smródmieście, but these new carriages are wonderful compared to the rotten old EN-57 elektryczka stock. All of a sudden passengers feel well treated, 21st Century citizens, not communist riff-raff. Below, the Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train) departing from W-wa Jeziorki. Not enough knee-room, but even so, a huge improvement. The old EN-57s (warmed over for the nth remake) are still in service. You can never tell which train will take you to town.

Two new stations have appeared in recent months - W-wa Żwirki i Wigury* and W-wa Aleje Jerozolimskie by the Daimler building.

As you can see from the above picture, the station itself leaves much to be desired. Britain's personal injury lawyers would have a wonderful time - look at those uneven paving slabs. There's only one sign saying "W-wa Jeziorki". The one timetable on the station is unreadable due to early morning condensation under the plastic cover. The pricing is opaque at best. (Single 7 zlotys, network single, 4 zlotys). Other prices are bizarre - 8.51 zł, 6.37 zł; the conductor is busy fiddling with small change and working out complex fare structures from unmanned suburban stations. Meanwhile those at the back of the train travel for free, knowing the harrassed conductor will never get round to checking them as he's too busy hunting for two-grosz coins.

* Żwirko and Wigura - Poland's Alcock and Brown, after whom the main road to the airport is named.

This time last year:
Lovely autumn weather continues
Dull day, lovely day