2. Krakoów Glówny

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 15. Holiday in Kraków-02-06.03.20 > 2. Auschwitz-Birkenau & Kraków Glówny > 2. Krakoów Glówny

After the horrors of the morning, I spent an hour or so at Kraków Main station. An appropriately grey and suitably dismal end to the day.

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Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.

EP09-004, stabled, Kraków-Glówny station
Kraków's Glówny or Main station was opened in 2014 with the large and integrated station replacing a much smaller station some hundred or so metres south. During my visit, only three-quarters of the platforms were in use due to extensive track renewals taking place opposite the old station building. Even so, the station did feel rather underused with patronage being somewhat lower than one would have expected proportionate to its size. However, I suppose I am conditioned to the often chronic overcrowding on the UK network. EP09-004 sits stabled on the 'quiet' side of the station awaiting its next turn of duty.
Keywords: EP09-004 Kraków-Glówny station PKP

ED250-011, 17.07 Kraków Glówny-Warszawa Wschodnia (EIP3102), Kraków Glówny station
The twenty strong Polish Pendolinos are of the non-tilting variety that ultimately limits their top speed on the purpose-built high-speed lines constructed by the PKP. However, they really do look purposeful and very similar to the Italian Railways' ETR 610 units, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/24957549604/x600-007-17-20-milan-c-rome-t-9549 As with the British Pendolinos, it is good to see that the highly aerodynamic nose cone cover is left open during operations! ED250-011 waits on Kraków's platform four with the 17.07 to Warszawa Wschodnia.
Keywords: ED250-011 17.07 Kraków Glówny-Warszawa Wschodnia EIP3102 Kraków Glówny station Pendolino PKP Hi-Speed train

EN77-003, 15.28 Sedziszów-Kraków-Glówny (KML23683), Kraków Glówny station
One of Malopolskie province's Acatus 2 EMUs arrives at Krakóv's Glówny station with the 15.28 from Sedziszów. EN77-003 is one of just five operated under the regional banner with a number of other Acatus 2s run by other companies throughout Poland.
Keywords: EN77-003 15.28 Sedziszów-Kraków-Glówny KML23683 Kraków Glówny station Acatus 2 Malopolskie province

EN64-005 & EN64-001, 14.35 Jaworzno Szczakowa-Rzeszów Glówny (R43804 & 43805), Kraków Glówny station
Another variant of the Actus family of EMUs arrives into Kraków Glówny station. In a rather fetching SKA Malopolskie green livery, EN64-005 and EN64-001 work the 14.35 Jaworzno Szczakowa to Rzeszów Glówny.
Keywords: EN64-005 EN64-001, 14.35 Jaworzno Szczakowa-Rzeszów Glówny R43804 43805 Kraków Glówny station Acatus Plus

EN71-002, 17.19 Kraków Glówny-Krzeszowice (R30719), Kraków Glówny station
The EN71 class EMUs are four-car sets that entered service in 1965 being constructed at the Panstwowa Fabryka Wagonów (Eng. National Rail Carriage Factory) works in Breslau. EN71-002 is one of the early versions of the class having ribbed bodyside panels and is seen here at Kraków Main station working the 17.19 to Krzeszowice. Compared with PKP's modern EMU fleet, these units do look very dated with their huge searchlight front lamps.
Keywords: EN71-002 17.19 Kraków Glówny-Krzeszowice R30719 Kraków Glówny station

EP09-025, 13.35 Przemyssl Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny (IC3600), Kraków Glówny station
The driver of EP09-025 leans down to collect information from his guard whilst a dispatcher looks on ready to get the 13.35 Przemyssl Glówny to Wroclaw Glówny underway from Kraków. Przemyssl is a town on the far eastern Polish border with Ukraine with this train going all the way to the capital. It has a travelling distance of six hundred and sixty kilometres (four hundred and ten miles).
Keywords: EP09-025 13.35 Przemyssl Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny IC3600 Kraków Glówny station PKP

Buffet bar, 13.35 Przemysly Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny (IC3600), Krakolaw Glówny station
Just as all semblance of catering is being withdrawn from trains on the UK network, on PKP there is still full-sized buffet bars that looked to be pretty well patronised. The offerings may not have been full meals on this particular service but I did see restaurant cars on other trains. This coach was in the consist of the IC3600 13.35 Przemysly to Wroclaw service as it pauses at Kraków.
Keywords: Buffet bar 13.35 Przemysly Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny IC3600 Krakolaw Glówny station PKP InterCity

Bike storeage 13.35 Przemysly Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny (IC3600), Krakolaw Glówny station
For those of us who have ever tried to take a bike on a UK train in recent years there are often problems to be overcome. On many, notably Voyagers, they have to be pre-booked and on many more, during certain hours, they cannot be carried at all. This is a thoroughly retrograde step in a new era when we are being encouraged to use an appropriate and integrated transport mix to get about and reduce our carbon footprint. I suppose to train designers and operating companies, bike spaces take away seat spaces and therefore income. On Polish railways, on many coaches, including local services, there were a number of dedicated bike storage facilities on board. In this carriage that was part of the 13.35 Przemysly Glówny to Wroclaw Glówny service, there were no bikes being conveyed but in others there were. On the PKP website, https://rozklad-pkp.pl/en it states that on this particular train, IC3600, that the 'NUMBER OF BICYCLES CONVEYED LIMITED'.
Keywords: Bike storeage13.35_Przemysly_Glówny-Wroclaw_Glówny_(IC3600),_Krakolaw_Glówny_station

Compartment 13.35 Przemysly Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny (IC3600), Krakolaw Glówny station
Now this is the way to travel! As is so often the case throughout Europe, coaches with compartments are still very much the norm with open saloons being far fewer in number. I suppose that the only downside of this comfortable looking six-seater compartment is the lack of a table, but I think that I could put up with that given the space and comfort afforded by this compartment. This particular carriage was in the consist of the 13.35 Przemysly Glówny to Wroclaw Glówny IC3600 service that was composed of and advertised as being entirely second class accommodation with a couple of first-class carriages that had been declassified. To be absolutely honest, they looked little different to the second class ones so I am not sure what the premium fare gives to the customers of PKP?
Keywords: Compartment 13.35 Przemysly Glówny-Wroclaw Glówny (IC3600) Krakolaw Glówny station PKP Inter City Polish Railways

EN77-005, 17.22 Kraków Glówny-Tarnów (KML33421), Kraków Glówny station
Inside the somewhat dark interior of Kraków's Glóny station, Actus 2 EN77-005 waits to leave with the 17.22 evening commuter train to Tarnów. It looks like the driver is about to get his journey details or updates on the route from the guard who is just approaching the cab, papers in hand. These EN77 units, of which five are operated in this area by Maopolskie province, were roomy and looked comfortable with passengers sitting at two levels within the coaches. Notice in this image the large folding mirrors that are a feature of all Polish trains.
Keywords: EN77-005 17.22 Kraków Glówny-Tarnów KML33421 Kraków Glówny station Acatus 2 PESA Małopolskie province

EN77-004, 17.21 Kraków Glówny-Sedziszów (KML32822), EP09-003 & EN77-005, 17.22 Kraków Glówny-Tarnów (KML33421), Kraków Glówny station
Between duties, EP09-003 sits in Kraków's Glówny station between a pair of Malopolskie province operated Class EN77 Acatus 2 EMUs. To the left, EN77004 will leave with the 17.21 to Sedziszów a small town due north of Kraków. Meanwhile to the right, sister unit EN77005 will leave a minute later with the 17.22 to Tarnów a large and historic town to the south-east of the city.
Keywords: EN77-004 17.21 Kraków Glówny-Sedziszów KML32822 EP09-003 EN77-005 17.22 Kraków Glówny-Tarnów KML33421 Kraków Glówny station PKP Polish Railways

Former platform old Kraków Glówny station
The former main platform at Kraków Glówny station is seen lit but devoid of passengers and any signage as it was finally closed in 2014. The new station that is more of transport interchange also has direct access into the huge Galeria Krakowska shopping centre all of which is directly behind where I'm standing. Notice that there are very few tracks laid on the ballast behind the railings. The throat of the station to the south was in the process of complete renewal with only two running lines in use. This led to some inevitable cancellations with a number of bustitutions from the station forecourt. Sounds very familiar doesn't it!
Keywords: Former platform old Kraków Glówny station

Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.