Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

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The following railway equipment, which was devastated during the war, has been
reconstructed : 173 railway bridges, representing a total length of 4,326 metres; 36 stations;
52 other buildings; 14 tanks, etc. : total cost: 21.9 million zloty.
A considerable quantity of rolling-stock was purchased exclusively in local factories,
and old engines and worn-out trucks were withdrawn from use. During the past five
years, 475 new engines, 576 coaches and 17,890 goods trucks have been purchased at a
total cost of 350 million zloty; 347 engines, 245 coaches and 3,155 goods trucks have been
withdrawn from service.
(b) Among the works in course of execution but not yet terminated, mention may
be made of the following : works in connection with the construction of 273 kilometres,
approximately, of new railway lines; works necessitated by the reconstruction of railway
junctions, more especially that at Warsaw, where the electrification of the connecting line
opened to traffic in 1933 and of the suburban sections of the railway are being continued.
Work is also in progress on certain existing railway lines for the doubling of certain
tracks, installation of haulage apparatus and safety appliances, etc. The rebuilding of
10 bridges destroyed during the war is proceeding.
(c) During the next few years, apart from the completion of the above-mentioned
works already in progress, it is proposed to build a series of new railway lines of a total
length of 1,400 kilometres, at a cost of 500 million zloty. The necessity for this further
considerable extension of the railways is due to the fact that the Polish railway system
is very undeveloped, particularly in the east and centre of the country. In Poland, the
railway system represents a density of 4.6 kilometres per 100 square kilometres of territory,
which is much lower than that of Western Europe.
It is also necessary to take in hand the rebuilding and strengthening of a considerable
number of bridges on existing lines, as these bridges were built to carry trains much
lighter than those at present in operation; as a result, they are subject to undue strain,
which means that the traffic has to be restricted.
The estimates for these works amount to 50 million zloty.
In view of the increase in train speeds, one of the most important needs of the Polish
railways is the modernisation and improvement of the present safety appliances, which are
for the most part out of date and inadequate to their purpose. This remark also applies
to conditions of safety at level-crossings, which must be brought up to the standards
required under the regulations in force. The cost of these works is estimated at several
tens of million zloty. Apart from the rebuilding of stations and buildings destroyed
during the war, new stations, housing accommodation and other railway buildings will
have to be constructed. The cost is estimated at 80 million zloty.
It is proposed to purchase new rolling-stock as worn-out stock is withdrawn from
service; it is also proposed to improve the rolling-stock at present in use by fitting it with
Westinghouse coupled brakes.
The execution of the full programme of necessary works within a period of ten years
would entail an average annual expenditure of approximately 150 million zloty.
II. Administyative Methods followed or contemplated for the Execution
of the Above-mentioned Works.
Almost the whole of the Polish railway system (more than 95 %) State property,
only an insignificant number of railways belong to private companies. All lines, both
State and private, are managed by the State undertaking known as the “ Polish State
Railways” (P.K.P.), which is incorporated as an independent body. Such being the
case, the railway works are carried out under the control of the P.K.P., with the exception
of works connected with the construction of railways for which concessions have been
granted, which are carried out by private companies, and those on local railways in the
Voivodeship of Silesia, which are carried out directly by the Voivodeship authorities.