Big rail news for Chynów

Two stories popped into my social-media feeds today, both concerning local rail travel. The first is about the CPK project, the second about planned station upgrades for Chynów and Sułkowice. I'll start with CPK, the airport part of which I consider unnecessary. Summary: two successive Polish governments have decided to build a brand-new airport southwest of Warsaw (about a third of the way to Łódź). This will be the 'centralny port komunikacyjny' or CPK, linked to the rest of Poland by upgraded roads and high-speed rail. The rail element interests me. The new airport is to be built west of Chynów, and today's news concerns the rail link from Chynów and the Warsaw-Radom line to the airport. 

Below: the chosen variant will not see new lines built, merely the upgrade of existing ones. The junction at Czachówek will take on strategic importance, as trains from Chynów, Warka, Radom and the south will swing west here towards Mszczonów and the new airport, along the Skierniewice-Łuków line (which itself is due for a major upgrade and reinstatement of passenger services along its length). Also worthy is the modernisation and extension to Grójec of the Piaseczno narrow-gauge line, which is intended to be a commuter route from a satellite town neglected by the rail network.

Looking up close at the local plans, I can see that the project will entail significant changes for Chynów, Jakubowizna and Widok. The level crossing in Jakubowizna is slated for closure! It will be replaced (as will the one on ulica Spokojna between Chynów and Krężel stations) by a viaduct, carrying a completely new road that is planned to run between and parallel to ul. Spokojna and ul. Wolska, emerging halfway through the village of Widok. The closure of the level crossing will mean having to walk an extra 250m (plus 250m on the way back) when walking to Chynów. By car, it will mean an extra 3.2km to get to the shops in Chynów.

So – swings and roundabouts; local inconveniences traded for the ability to travel east-west by train as well as north-south.

The second story concerns Poland's rail infrastructure operator, PKP PLK, announcing a major project to modernise 181 stations (of the total of over 2,500 across all of Poland)... and among them, Chynów and the next one up the line, Sułkowice. Below: the map, from the press release (in Polish, here). Right-click to open in new tab, then click to enlarge for full detail.

The fact that Chynów found itself on this list generated local surprise, given the recent modernisation of the entire Warsaw-Radom line that resulted in a massive improvement in service. However, as one observant local citizen pointed out, despite the new platforms and infrastructure, the actual station building hasn't changed. 

If you're asking me, I think that Chynów station needs three things: a lot more bicycle stands (especially on the east side); electronic display boards to show arrivals and departures and any delays in real time; and asphalt/paving for the car park plus convenient passenger access to it (it's currently just the rough ground left after the demolition of the old goods yard). Below: ample space to park cars, but there are no steps from the far end or the middle of the platform to get to them. Shortly before taking this photo, I saw a man jump the fence to save himself going all the way round the other side of that ochre-coloured building at the far end of the platform. 

Below: on the Jakubowizna (east) side of the station, there are just four bicycle stands. Yesterday afternoon, I counted 17 bicycles there; eight attached to the stands (two to each), the rest chained to the fence or the railings. Rather than chide cyclists for chaining their bikes where they shouldn't be, PKP PLK should just place another ten or so bicycle stands here.

Warka station now has digital indicator screens working on all platforms and in the tunnel that links them, as well as in the station building booking hall/waiting room. Chynów is due to get them soon. This will be a valuable addition in terms of keeping passengers aware of delays in real time.

I walked to Sułkowice to have another look at the station. To my surprise, it actually has a booking hall/waiting room that's still functioning! Open until 4pm, I managed to buy a ticket for the 15:56 service towards Radom, just one stop to Chynów. The ticket cost 2.73 złotys (55p with my 35% seniors' discount). I fished out a five złoty coin, but the ticket lady had no change. So I grubbed about in my wallet until I found a two złoty coin and assorted small change so I could offer the exact amount. What a faff. Normally, I'd always use the Koleje Mazowieckie app, but because the ticket office was open, I thought, why not use it? Below: climbing the steps to the small shelter, there are no obvious signs that there actually is a ticket office here, let alone that it's open...

Below: it most certainly is open and functioning! Old school but absolutely spotless. I wonder how many people actually use it. I often take the train from Sułkowice to Chynów, but wasn't aware that this place still functions. A buffet would be handy here. And in the booking office/waiting room in Chynów too.

Minor gripes aside, it is actually wonderful that the Polish state is investing so heavily in its rail infrastructure. This really is the way forward – not more motorways and airports. However, how long will all this take? September's nearly over and Warsaw West's new underground passage (it was meant to be ready for 1 September) is not yet open. Everything takes ages. I remember that when the Elizabeth Line (or Crossrail as it was originally called) was first announced in 2007, my father joked that he'd not live to see it actually working. How right he was. It opened in May 2022, two and half years after his death. Will I get to see the CPK project completed and working?

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