Narrative
The railway line connects the capital of the Greater Poland region, Poznań, with Wągrowiec, which has about 25,000 inhabitants. Its modernisation was completed in 2011-2013. Immediate effects of the modernisation include: reduced travel time by 25 minuntes (-40%), and higher maximum speed (up to 120 km/h). The most important outcome is that the railway line, previously marginalised, has become second-most used railway line in Greater Poland, with over 10,5 thousand trips yearly. Initial revitalisation has opened the way for: increasing the number of passengers on the line by 50%, leading to fewer cars on the road to Poznań (subsequently, park&ride facilities near train stations were built from EU Funding); increasing the number of trains in 2018 (taking 30 minutes instead of 1 hour), leading in turn to the purchase of four higher-capacity, more efficient trains (from local funding); the opening of a train-service point in Wągrowiec (partly from EU funding); upgrading the Wągrowiec Railway Station, which was named 'best railway station' in 2018 (partly from EU funding, with the main station building upgraded solely from local funding); and plans for EU funding to help revitalise a closed part of the railway from Wągrowiec to Szubin, Kcynia, and further to Bydgoszcz.
Financial data
Railway revitalisation was financed 50% from ERDF and the Regional Operational Programme for Greater Poland 2007-2013. The overall allocated sum was EUR 40 million. More funds were provided for subsequent investments in rolling stock (EUR 22.5 million, with 70% from ERDF), P&R facilities, Wągrowiec Station (EUR 3.5 million, with no EU funding), and a train-service point (EUR 15 million, with 50% from ERDF).
Recommendations
All new railway modernisations should be a part of a revitalisation packets (railway, trains, stations, communication with local transport and park&ride facilities). New modernisations should put more effort to electrification of railway lines. Polish regions should take bolder approach to railway modernisation: in the 2021-2027 period, only three regions have decided to modernise their railway lines.
Information sources
VariousOther info
All links are in Polish:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120419064120/http://www.wrpo.wielkopolskie.pl/zalaczniki/Modernizacja_linii_kolejowej_nr_356_Poznan_Wschod__Bydgoszcz.pdf
https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/spalinowe-impulsy-kolei-wielkopolskich-wyjechaly-na-trasy-99358.html
https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/dworzec-roku-2018-wygral-wagrowiec-89820.html
https://www.sektorkolejowy.pl/zaplecze-serwisowe-kolei-wielkopolskich-w-wagrowcu-oddane-do-eksploatacji/
https://wagrowiec.naszemiasto.pl/juz-niebawem-przybedzie-szynobusow-na-trasie-wagrowiec/ar/c4-465240
https://wagrowiec.naszemiasto.pl/koleje-wielkopolskie-kupily-cztery-nowoczesne-i-wieksze/ar/c1-7332909