The most important information (click to go)
This will undoubtedly be the largest transport investment in the post-war history of Wroclaw. MPK estimates the cost of construction at more than one billion PLN, and there is probably not a shred of exaggeration in this estimate.
‘This place shows how much Wroclaw invests in public transport for the citizens of Wroclaw,’ says Renata Granowska, Deputy Mayor of Wrocław, standing in the place where the tracks to the depot will run.
Where will the new tram depot be located?
It will be built in Nowe Żerniki (in the Leśnica housing estate). Walking straight ahead along Architektów Avenue, not discouraged by the road coming to an end, we will bring you to the site where the new facility will be built.
It is an area bounded by railway tracks to the south and by the A8 motorway bypass (AOW) to the east. There is residential development to the north-east.
What will Nowe Żerniki depot be like?
It is designed to accommodate 150 trams. MPK needs to buy new trams, as several new tram lines will be added in the coming years – the soonest in Swojczyce, but also in Maślice, Klecina or Jagodno.
Witold Woźny, President of MPK Wroclaw: ‘This is not only an investment in infrastructure but in the future of public transport in Wroclaw. With this depot, we will better adapt the rolling stock to the new routes and raise the standards of passenger service. Repair and maintenance workshops will be located here, too. Currently, we have to outsource specialised repairs, which generates costs and increases their duration. At this depot, we will be able to do this by ourselves and optimise costs.
The location of the depot at Architektów Avenue will improve the support of connections in the western part of the city. The current three depots provide a good service to the “east”.
The new facility will allow for better rolling stock management, shorter service routes and an increase in the number of tram lines served.’
Renata Granowska, Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw: ‘This is the most expensive infrastructure investment in the history of Wroclaw, which will cost more than one billion zlotys. The city is implementing the largest programme of investment in the expansion of public transport since the beginning of Polish Wroclaw. During this term, we are working on the construction of five new tram routes, and the first of these, to Swojczyce, is about to start.’
MPK's new tram depot – what will it contain?
The state-of-the-art facility will accommodate 150 new trams and will be equipped with:
- workshop halls for comprehensive rolling stock maintenance,
- a car wash and a paint shop ensuring that vehicles are kept in optimum condition,
- Traffic and maintenance centre building,
- modern diagnostic infrastructure.
The cost of the investment will exceed one billion PLN and the design work will take about 18 months.
Żerniki depot – to be modern and environmentally friendly
As part of the investment, solutions will be implemented to minimise the consumption of energy and natural resources and to reduce the environmental impact of public transport.
The available solutions will include:
- photovoltaic panels on the roofs of buildings providing energy to power the facility,
- a system for collecting rainwater to wash the trams,
- reversible heat pumps for energy-efficient heating and cooling,
- mechanical ventilation with recuperation for heat recovery,
- LED lighting to reduce electric energy consumption.
New routes – new depot
The construction of the new tram depot is not only about developing the infrastructure, but also preparing for the operation of new tram routes.
Elżbieta Urbanek, Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport: ‘The new depot is one of the key transport projects in the city's history. In two years' time, the tram will run along a bus-tram route to Swojczyce, and in 2028 it will be possible to reach the Jagodno district by tram. We plan to launch two further tram lines to Maślice and to Klecina within a similar time frame.
The construction of the depot will also result in a new tram route for the residents of Nowe Żerniki. Trams will run on a one kilometre-long section of track running along Architektów Avenue to the new tram terminus in front of the depot.’
Anna Pietrońska, Chairwoman of the Management of the Leśnica Housing Estate: ‘This is a necessary investment for this housing estate. Nowe Żerniki is growing and elderly people report to us that they find it inconvenient to get to quite distant stops at Kosmonautów. We are, therefore, happy that a new track section will be built here together with a stop at the level of Brzozy.
The modern depot is not only a back-up for the trams, but also a key element of the city's infrastructure to ensure the smooth operation of public transport.’
‘Each depot is like the heart of public transport; it is where the daily pulse of the city begins. Thanks to this investment, the new trams will run on wide arteries, reaching places where they have not been before,’ concludes Witold Woźny, CEO of MPK Wroclaw.
