The Tricity Rapid Urban Railway ( ; SKM), is a public rapid transit and commuter rail system in Poland's Tricity area (Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia), in addition to servicing the Little Kashubian Tricity and Lębork west of Gdynia; its service extended in the past also to Słupsk, Pruszcz Gdański, Tczew, Elbląg, and as far south as Iława. Until December 2022, It serviced Kartuzy and Koscierzyna.
The SKM functions as a rapid transit and commuter rail service for the Tricity, operating frequent trains on the central section between Gdańsk and Gdynia, and less frequently to outlying sections. The SKM route has 27 stops covering the Tricity between Gdańsk, Gdynia and Wejherowo.
The SKM was established after World War II ended in 1945, when the cities of the Tricity, which had previously been divided under Polish and non-Polish administrations, all became part of Poland. For the first 24 years, from the start of SKM service in January 1952 until December 1976, SKM trains used cars built in the 1930s for the Berlin S-Bahn. These cars had been taken from Germany to Poland in 1945 as war reparations.
In December 1976 the Berlin cars were retired, and replaced by new ones constructed in Poland. In 2014, nearly one-third of the SKM fleet was completely rebuilt. An order for new cars was also on the horizon, and the SKM was entering a constant phase of modernization and improvement.
Railway
Route and service
The SKM route has 27 stops covering the Tricity between Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and Wejherowo, all located along one continuous line parallel to the coast of the Baltic Sea.SKM Passenger Information, and Map http://www.skm.pkp.pl/ SKM service has been extended to Wejherowo and Lębork, west of Gdynia. The entire line is electrified, and service is operated by electric multiple unit trains at intervals of 6 to 30 minutes between trains (depending on the time of day) on the central section between Gdańsk and Gdynia, and less frequently on outlying sections. It is similar to a subway service or light rail in other European cities. The Tricity area is suited for this method of transport, as it occupies a relatively narrow north–south corridor between Gdańsk Bay and the Tricity Landscape Park.
Rolling stock
SKM uses mostly PKP class EN57 and EN71 electric multiple unit trains, whose design dates back to 1962 and 1976. They have since been modernised to meet EU requirements such as accessibility for handicapped passengers, advanced security and comfort. In 2016 2 new Newag Impuls trainsets were purchased. The rolling stock is maintained at Gdynia Cisowa Elektrowozownia (Gdynia Cisowa Depot), which is located on the border between Gdynia and Rumia, and also serves as company headquarters.
The EMUs have doors on both sides of the train and therefore can easily be used in either direction. Even though the SKM line has stops with high platforms, the units can be used on low platform stations as well. The most common livery for SKM electric multiple units is yellow and blue. The exception are units with advertising labels, which are coloured according to the advertiser's wishes. The SKM company logo is placed on both sides of the unit, next to the doors.
On October 29, 2007, newly refurbished EN57 units modernised by ZNTK Mińsk Mazowiecki entered service. The refurbishments included an improved shape for aerodynamics. New security systems, one of which prevents the doors from opening while the train is in motion, were also added. Additionally, dividing walls between cars were removed and seats were mounted on walls instead of on the floor. The trains were made more accessible by improving access to toilets and adding electronic displays and station announcements. Crew compartments were equipped with an air conditioning system. The total cost of modernisation came to 18,000,000 zł, 5,000,000 of which was covered by the European Union.
PKP SKM used a 55 million PLN (around €13 million) loan from the Polish Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) to refurbish 22 electric railway carriages, extending the lifetime by 20 years. +ImageCar typeManufacturerYear Number of carsEN57Pafawag196918EN71Pafawag197511EN71ACNewag20091EN57AKMZNTK MM2013-20162631WENewag2016 10
Modernisation of rolling stock, 2014
In September 2013 SKM signed a contract with Pesa SA of Bydgoszcz to modernise 21 trainsets, comprising nearly one-third of SKM's fleet of 65 trainsets. The first modernised train was delivered on 31 March 2014.
The modernization is so thorough that these are practically totally new trains.PESA, 'Modernization of EN57 series EMUs,' http://www.wzp.pl/uploads/pliki/Modernizacja_EN57,_prezentacja_PESA_SA.pdf Modernization includes: totally new interiors, new seats, new lighting, new windows; new heating systems with thermostats to regulate temperature, new thermal insulation; new toilets; new information displays; and features providing accessibility for handicapped persons. The car exteriors, and the exterior of the driver's cab, have a totally new appearance. Electrical and mechanical changes include totally new propulsion systems, using modern AC motors fed by AC inverters, providing smoother acceleration, energy savings by returning braking energy to the power supply, and a higher top speed of .'SKM: Pierwsze Składy Zmodernizowane przez Pesę,' Rynek Kolejowy 2014 3 31, http://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/51567/skm_pierwsze_sklady_zmodernizowane_przez_pese.htm
The delivery of the 21 modernised train-sets was completed on 25 October 2014.'SKM Trójmiasto: Zakończenie projektu modernizacji 21 EZT,' Rynek Kolejowy 2014 10 28, http://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/54518/skm_trojmiasto_zakonczenie_projektu_modernizacji_21_ezt.htm Modernization of the 21 trainsets cost 121 million zł.
Tickets
SKM is the only transit operator offering an own single ticket for a travel throughout entire Tricity. However, the Gdańsk Bay Public Transport Metropolitan Union (MZKZG), a body incorporated by the municipalities in the area to act as a common public transport authority, issues tickets valid both for the SKM as well as for all or some of the trams and buses in Gdańsk or trolleybuses and buses in Sopot and Gdynia.
Most of the train stops have ticket booths, and passengers wishing to start a journey at a stop without one can buy a ticket directly from the conductor. The price of a normal ticket depends on the distance of a trip, and varies from 3,20 zł. to 25,50 zł. Monthly and weekly tickets are also available, as well as discounts for students.
Tickets purchased from a machine come pre-validated and are typically only valid for the next train. A passenger boarding a train without a validating their ticket is regarded as the same as a passenger without a ticket. SKM has subcontracted a company called Renoma for ticket inspections.
Since 2002, SKM tickets are not valid on other PKP Group trains. Previously PKP Przewozy Regionalne tickets could be used on SKM trains, and SKM tickets could be used on PKP Przewozy Regionalne trains on SKM routes. It is still possible to buy a monthly ticket valid on both companies.
The layout of the ticket has changed over time. At first, tickets were identical on all local lines, and were small cardboard rectangles, often with a hole pierced in the middle. Tickets then became orange, with a white stripe on one end for stamping information about the station and time of validation. The SKM then moved to light blue tickets, also with a white stripe which were only valid on its lines. Originally, this new layout had a list of stops printed on the reverse. Recently, this has been replaced by advertisements or information about the possibility of advertising. There are also blank tickets, sold by train conductors to sell tickets at stops where no ticket office is available. These have a list of stops with boxes to note start and destination of the journey, type of discount (if any) and number of tickets. An extra fee for sale on the train can also be noted on these tickets, for instance, if a passenger boards at a stop where he could buy a ticket normally.
Since January 2007, it has been possible to buy tickets (both single and monthly) from special vending machines. For the first week after introducing those devices SKM employees were available to show passengers how to operate them.
Dedicated stops
The Tricity Rapid Urban Railway owns 27 stops on the way from Gdańsk to Wejherowo, of which 8 are connected with railway stations. All the stops lie along a single continuous line. This has been the situation since 2005, when the spur to Gdańsk – Nowy Port has been closed for regular passenger traffic, and the terminus on this line has continued to be occasionally used only during events on the Amber Arena Stadium or in the adjacent Gdańsk Expo exhibition center.
The Main line Throughout the Tricity, SKM has its own stops built only for its own use. The stops have high platforms, with tracks on both sides. Except at the Gdańsk Główny stop, all trains heading south stop at the western side of the platform, and trains heading north on the eastern side. SKM is systematically working on improving the quality of stops, as most of them are currently in bad shape, lacking basic services such as elevators for handicapped passengers or proper ticket validators. The company recently launched a survey, asking visitors to its website which of the stops should be repaired first. Since January 2006 SKM decided to install video cameras at stops and stations in order to improve the security level on platforms and inside station buildings.
In 2004, the Tricity Rapid Urban Railway signed an agreement with Relay, the owner of a chain of press outlets, giving the latter exclusive rights for building its kiosks on platforms. One of the conditions was the unification of the general look of kiosks.
Outside the Tricity, on the Gdynia Cisowa-Wejherowo line SKM uses stops built more recently, mostly with two platforms on both sides of the tracks. The two platforms are connected by underground or overhead pedestrian passageways.
Not all stops have ticket offices, some consist simply of a platform, sometimes even without a roof. A few of the stops are connected with railway stations, as the SKM tracks are paralleled by tracks used by long-distance and regional trains. At these stations, high platforms have been built for SKM trains. Over 90% of stops are connected with other transport services (buses, trams, trolley buses, and the Gdańsk airport, while the Gdynia passenger ferry terminal is 2 bus stops away from the nearest station). At the stops which are parts of remote rail service stations, the timetables of both services match each other, especially for the night connections. The company makes a big effort to keep passengers well informed. Informational tables, lists of fares and timetableshttp://www.skm.pkp.pl/index.php SKM Official Web Site are changed as soon as the previous is out of date or destroyed (which unfortunately occurs quite often).
The eastern branch line to Gdańsk-Nowy Port The branch line to Gdańsk–Nowy Port has been closed for regular passenger traffic, but the current terminus on this line has continued to be occasionally used only during events on the Amber Arena Stadium or in the adjacent Gdańsk Expo exhibition center. The section of the line beyond the current terminus is closed, its stops have fallen into disrepair and most of them are now ruined, despite their heritage character (those stops were built before launching SKM service in Gdańsk). Even in the last years when SKM still served this section of the line, no efforts were made to repair underground or overground pedestrian walkways or platforms. Gdańsk Nowy Port stop was the first one to be closed, when the line was shortened in 2000. As a result, SKM no longer provides service to the Gdańsk ferry terminal, as opposed to the terminal located in Gdynia.
The Wejherowo – Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant branch line