Węglińc railroad station, whose project was developed by TPF Sp. z o.o. on behalf of PKP S.A., honored in the Zabytek Zadbany 2023 competition!!! This is one of the most prestigious competitions in the field of conservation and protection of monuments in Poland, which has been held for almost half a century. Its organizers are the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and the General Conservator of Antiquities. This year, 42 sites from 13 provinces qualified for the competition, including the Wegliniec train station complex, which received an honorable mention in the category of technical monuments, in which the competition's chapter did not choose a winner this year.
The project for the reconstruction of the station included the buildings of the so-called Old and New Station, part of the pedestrian bridge over the tracks and the shelters adjacent to the stations. Thanks to it, the so-called New Station, which dates back to 1865, regained its historic splendor. The brick facade, richly decorated with detail, underwent a comprehensive renovation. It features floral patterns, Corinthian-style columns, as well as figures of animals, including eagles. Clocks have been restored in the gable parts of the facade. Attention is also drawn to the graphite iron columns, with decorated capitals, on which the shelter with skylights adjacent to the station was based. The whole effect obtained in this way is emphasized at night by the new illumination of the building.
The interior of the station looks equally splendid. Passenger service space is located on the first floor in the western part of the building in the former 3rd and 4th class waiting room. Travelers will find a spacious, bright waiting room with lighting reminiscent of the station's historic character. It is equipped with benches, display cases for timetables and electronic boards for train arrivals and departures. Also new is a special children's zone, located behind a glass display case. The travelers' service area will not lack toilets and a small rental unit. The eastern part of the building is equally interesting. The former 1st and 2nd class waiting room will house an intimate cinema room and exhibition space. It also houses a railroad security guard station.
The complex of Węgliniec railway station after reconstruction is not only a magnificent historical building. It is also a comfortable, safe, environmentally friendly railroad station that meets modern standards for passenger service, as well as a space where travelers and residents will find, run by the local government, a cinema and exhibition hall. In the implementation of this investment, it is also important to emphasize the cooperation and coordination of the work with PKP PLK thanks to which it was possible to achieve such a fantastic final result," says Ireneusz Maślany, member of the PKP SA management board.
Thanks to the investment, the station has become friendly to people with disabilities and safe. Architectural barriers were eliminated and a number of new solutions were introduced to make it easier for this group of travelers to use it. Among them are signage in Braille, tactile boards with a plan of the station and guided paths. Security in the building, as well as in its immediate surroundings, has been improved. State-of-the-art monitoring, access control and burglary and assault signaling, as well as fire alarm systems have been installed.
The station is also more environmentally friendly. It has become less energy-intensive thanks to window and door frames restored to mimic historic ones, and insulation on the inside. In addition, it features energy-efficient lighting and heat pumps. An intelligent building management system (BMS), which monitors the operation of equipment and installations, also contributes to optimizing the consumption of heat, electricity and water.
In addition to the building of the so-called New Station, the Old Station, built in 1846, underwent reconstruction. Its appearance resembles that of a fortified castle, with two symmetrical towers, each 18.6 meters high. The facade of the building has undergone renovation, with a number of architectural details restored, including rustications and cornices. The clock also draws attention, as well as a small loggia based on stylish columns with a balustrade with floral motifs. The interior of the former station was adapted for offices for railroad companies.
The redevelopment of the station complex in Wegliniec also included a small historical building of the former freight offices, which became a bicycle stand with racks and a bicycle washing point. The investment also included correcting the entrance to the footbridge over the tracks running towards the city, which can be accessed by elevator. Elements of small architecture were also located in the vicinity of the station.
During the implementation of the investment it was extremely important to cooperate with the company PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe . Among other things, the infrastructure manager carried out work related to the design and construction of a ramp from the footbridge towards Kolejowa Street and the platform edges adjacent to the Węgliniec station building. Thanks to these measures, the station complex is fully adapted to serve people with disabilities. In addition, PKP PLK S.A. also rebuilt the remaining platforms at the Węgliniec station along with their technical infrastructure.
TPF, in cooperation with An Archi Group Sp. z o. o., on behalf of PKP S.A., developed a conceptual design, construction design, detailed design, obtained a permit and carried out author's supervision over the implementation of the investment.
