MPK is modernizing the bus fleet. New electric buses from the pool of 50 purchased by the city carrier are slowly starting to arrive in Krakow.
On Monday, January 25, the first of 50 new electric buses ordered by MPK in Krakow left the Solaris Bus & Coach factory in Bolechowice near Poznań. The bus will be delivered on a special tow truck to the Wola Duchacka Bus Service Station.
After delivery, the technical acceptance of the new bus will begin. It will be carried out entirely at the MPK depot (due to the limitations related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is currently not possible for these technical approvals to take place at the manufacturer’s factory as before).
50 new buses for Krakow
The contract for the delivery of 50 electric buses and 50 charging devices via a plug-in connector, dedicated to each vehicle, was signed on May 25, 2020. All new buses will carry passengers on four lines No. 144, 173, 179, and partially 503, running through Aleja Trzech Wieszczów, i.e. in the area of the city, where the greatest exceedances of the permissible air pollution standards occur.
The electric buses that Solaris will deliver to Kraków will be driven by axles with integrated electric motors. Articulated buses will be structurally prepared for charging in 2 ways: through a 4-pole roof pantograph located above the first axle of the vehicle or through a plug-in connector. The energy storage will be Solaris High Energy + batteries.
European Union Funds ON!
Electric articulators will be able to offer a journey for 141 passengers at a time, 43 of whom will be able to use seats. The newest buses for Krakow will be equipped with monitoring, passenger information system, air conditioning, USB chargers and an electric heating system. People on wheelchairs will be able to use a platform that will facilitate getting on and off the bus. The ramp will be mounted at the second door. For the purchase of these vehicles, MPK SA obtained approx. PLN 110 million in subsidies from the European Union funds.
These are the next electric buses in the capital of Małopolska. The residents of Krakow can currently use 29 emission-free vehicles.
The article is taken from Gazeta Krakowska – you can find it here in Polish language.
In 2019, Krakow liquidated almost twice as many outdated boilers as all neighbouring communes. Despite this, the capital of Lesser Poland is still under heavy smog. The reason is pollution flowing into our city from neighboring towns. It is estimated that around 30,000 coal furnaces are still smoking around Krakow. What is needed is the involvement of other Małopolska communes in the fight for clean air, argue the authorities of Krakow. In turn, in the Marshal’s Office, we hear assurances that more and more outdated boilers are replaced year by year in the neighboring communes.
Air quality – always horrible at the beginning of the year!
The beginning of the year is terrible when it comes to air quality in Poland. Our country has become a red point on the map of Europe in the last few days. In many cities, including those from Małopolska, air pollution standards were exceeded even several times. In our voivodeship, the worst was in Nowy Targ and Kraków. The capital of Małopolska was even ranked 5th among the most polluted cities in the world.
This fact may come as a surprise as Krakow is very good at replacing obsolete boilers, which are the main source of air pollution. In 2019, the city liquidated almost twice as many as all neighboring communes. At the moment there are just over 2.8 thousand obsolete heat sourcesto be replaced.
Despite this, in recent days the smog cap has hung over our city again, and its authorities, due to the exceeding the average pollution level for PM10 dust, had to introduce free public transport.
The slow pace of replacement of obsolete boilers in municipalities around Krakow
MEPs from Krakow who deal with smog, have no doubt that the impact on this situation is, among others, the slow pace of replacement of obsolete furnaces and boilers in municipalities around our city.
In each of them, there are thousands of furnaces, in which solid fuels are still burned. Krakow lies in a basin, where pollution from neighboring towns is deposited.
MP Aleksander Miszalski from the Civic Coalition (during the online meeting on smog)
Polish Smog Alarm takes notice!
Recently, the Polish Smog Alarm presented data which clearly shows that the replacement of furnaces and boilers is very slow across the country. Krakow seems to be an exception. Among voivodeship cities, a record number of boilers was replaced here – over 4.1 thousand. Let us recall that in the capital of Małopolska, coal and wood smoking are prohibited from September 2019.
When sending inquiries to the municipalities, we expected that the number of boilers mentioned would not be significant, but what we saw in the responses showed a complete crisis in the area of replacing obsolete boilers.
said Andrzej Guła, PAS leader
We decided to check the situation in the communes around Krakow. For example, last year in the commune of Świątniki Górne over 90 coal-fired boilers were replaced with gas ones. “Additionally, 2 heat pumps and 2 biomass boilers were installed. 42 photovoltaic panels and 5 solar collectors were installed” – emphasizes the eco-manager Aleksander Piegza.
Replacement of old stoves in smaller cities around Krakow is crucial!
More obsolete stoves were replaced in the Niepołomice commune: last year, nearly 150. “It should be noted that the number refers only to investments made under the municipal subsidy projects and the Clean Air government program” – Anna Szewczyk from the Niepołomice City and Commune Office assures us.
1% for activities related to air protection
Let us recall that during the consultations on the new air protection program for the Małopolskie Voivodeship, it was proposed that all communes should allocate 1 % off for activities related to air protection, including subsidies for the replacement of boilers. Such a provision appeared in the final version of the program. Communes of the so-called “obwarzanek krakowski” complied with these recommendations, although it was not possible to reach 1% everywhere.
“As part of activities related to air protection, the Świątniki Górne commune secured about 0.7 % in the budget for 2021. The activities include: employment of eco-managers (2 jobs), implementation of subsidy programs for the exchange of heat sources and the installation of renewable energy sources, etc.” – informs Piegza. At the same time, he emphasizes that the commune has also managed to obtain funds from outside for investments related to air protection. “Therefore, if you count the total funds for this purpose, it would be approx. 4 % budget” – the eco-manager confirms.
Why does Krakow still have smog?
We asked the Krakow authorities why, despite the quick replacement of outdated boilers, smog continued to suffocate residents. Paweł Ścigalski, the plenipotentiary of President Jacek Majchrowski for air quality, emphasizes that there are many factors.
First, Krakow has a terrible geographical location – in the valley of the Vistula river, which makes it difficult to ventilate the city. In addition, especially in the autumn and winter period, there are temperature inversions, fogging, periods of wind silence, and air humidity. Despite the anti-smog resolution in force for Krakow, which mentions the ban on the use of solid fuels, there are still locations in the city where it is used.
Ścigalski
The air circulation knows no borders…
Like MP Miszalski, the president’s adviser draws attention to the situation in neighboring communes. “It is estimated that around 30,000 coal furnaces are still smoking around Krakow. The air has no borders and hence other Małopolska communes need to be involved in the fight for clean air, especially those in its immediate vicinity from the perspective of Kraków“, adds Ścigalski. However, it indicates that the air in our city is getting better every year.
You can see the effects of anti-smog activities. It is worth noting that the dust level has dropped by half in the last 7 years. For 2 years now, we have been in the annual average PM10 standard, the number of days with daily exceedances is decreasing, in 2020 there were less than 50 (average from the CIEP station in Krakow) – he says.
Kraków remains the leader in Małopolska
In turn, Michał Drewnicki, the press spokesman of the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, emphasizes that more and more outdated boilers are replaced in the neighboring communes of Krakow. “On the scale of Małopolska, Krakow remains the leader, which in 2019 liquidated almost twice as many outdated boilers than all neighboring communes. In previous years, this advantage was even greater” – says Drewnicki.
It indicates that among the communes of the so-called “Obwarzanek krakowski”, but also on the voivodeship level, Skawina stands out in particular. “The commune not only lists the most heat sources but also carries out the most inspections of furnaces, installs renewable energy sources in residential buildings, and has made an inventory of almost all heat sources” – he acknowledges.
The Gazeta Krakowska article, in PL language, can be found on the link provided.
The city commissioned a feasibility study for collision-free transport, including the metro in Krakow. One of the analyzed solutions is the construction of a tram line partially running underground.
The study for collision-free communication in Krakow, including the metro, was to be completed by December 16, 2019. However, there is a long delay associated with the creation of the document. Currently, the office informs that the study should be accepted in the first quarter of 2021.
So far, 4 out of 6 stages of the “Feasibility study for the construction of fast, collision-free rail transport in Krakow” were completed.
informs the Office
Implementation of Stage 4
The magistracy emphasizes that as part of the implementation of stage 4, the prepared documentation is the most extensive and thematically diverse part of the document, which includes:
detailed route mapping for various types of transport and development of a concept along with design drawings;
rolling stock analysis,
train traffic control,
power supply,
assessment of technologies adopted for implementation,
preliminary conservation conditions (opinions and arrangements),
preliminary assessment of legal conditions,
geological and engineering study, geotechnical opinion and hydrogeological study (e.g. based on field research – 140 research holes were made to a total depth of approx. 4500 m),
opinions of municipal units and municipal units (including the Road Administration of the City of Krakow, Public Transport Authority in Krakow, Municipal Investments Board in Krakow, Department of Spatial Planning, Department of Environmental Management, Department of Municipal Traffic Engineer).
What are the current technical possibilities?
The main goal of this stage was to determine the technical possibilities of implementing the new means of transport and to indicate the conditions that should be paid special attention to when performing further works. A multi-sector technical analysis allowed to obtain extremely valuable information in the field of technology of works (both route and station sections) and the construction of the geological substrate.
The optimal rolling stock and its parameters for each of the analyzed variants were also indicated. A very important aspect was the design of routes, stations, and stops in such a way as to preserve the unique character of the city. The areas particularly valuable in terms of monument protection were the center of Krakow and Nowa Huta – they add.
Conservation Works underway
Let us recall that in the case of the metro, the connection on the Nowa Huta – city center – Bronowice route was taken into account. In this case, arrangements were made with the conservation authorities as to the location of underground stops in the center. It was found that they could be located under the Mogilskie roundabout, in the vicinity of the Main Railway Station – under the Nowaka-Jeziorański square and under the square at ul. Karmelicka, where there is now an above-ground car park, and a park is to be built by mid-2022.
Multiple variants were taken into account!
One of the analyzed variants is also the construction of another fast tram line, which would partially run in the tunnel.
“The route of this variant coincides with the route of the variant assuming the implementation of the metro line, however, the tunnel section was designed in the central section, where the greatest difficulties occur on the tram network. The rest of the route is overground with partial use of the existing tram tracks (mainly in the Nowa Huta area), and the construction of new overground infrastructure would be partially required” – explains the Office.
How would the tram tunnel route look like?
The central (tunnel) section would run from the Barei roundabout along ul. Lublańska and Pilotów, where it would intersect with the railway line no. 100. Then the route was mapped towards the Mogilskie roundabout, where it would turn west along ul. Lubicz to the area of the railway station, thus creating a large interchange junction (tram, bus, railway) in this place. Next, the route would run along the outline of the Planty (1st ring road), along Rajska and ul. Reymont, where the end of the tunnel section was established.
The proposed stops for the tunnel part are: Polsadu roundabout, Młyńskie roundabout, Olsza, Mogilskie roundabout, Dworzec Główny, Stare Miasto, and Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza.
The May 2014 referendum
Let us recall that in May 2014, the inhabitants of Krakow voted in favor of the construction of the metro in Krakow in a referendum. In September 2018, the city signed an agreement with ILF Consulting Engineers Polska to develop (for PLN 9.4 million) a study for collision-free communication in Krakow, including the metro. The provisions of the contract were such that the document was to be drafted up to 68 weeks from the date of the contract, but no later than December 16, 2019.
If you decide to buy a Christmas tree, we encourage you to buy a tree in a pot – suggests the City Greenery Authority. Thanks to this, after Christmas, the Christmas tree can be returned to Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej (ZZM), and its employees will plant the Christmas tree in the spring.
When & where can we bring in the Christmas trees?
Christmas trees can be brought in from Tuesday, January 5. The action will last until February 1. The trees can be handed over to Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej (ZZM) between 7.30 am and 3.30 pm in the car park at ul. Za Torem 22 in Krakow. The place where you can leave the Christmas tree will be marked.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be eco-friendly during this year!
Opening your bedroom window at night reduces the risk of coronavirus infection by 50% – this is the result of research by British scientists quoted by national media. It turns out that poor airflow increases the risk of catching Covid-19. The problem is that the smog season has already begun in the south of Poland when the air quality is deteriorating day by day, so it is not advisable to ventilate the rooms. “The main recommendation at this time is to close the windows at night” – emphasizes Ewa Lutomska from the Krakow Smog Alert.
“The smog season has already begun and one of the recommendations at that time is not to ventilate the apartment”
British scientists are cited by, among others Radio Zet. Researchers point out that poor airflow increases the risk of catching Covid-19. It turns out that airborne Coronavirus particles can travel in microscopic aerosols over a distance of over two meters. The report says that by improving ventilation and increasing air circulation by opening windows, exposure to the virus is cut in half.
The problem is that in many cities and villages – especially in southern Poland – the smog season has just started, their inhabitants burn coal and wood in stoves to heat their homes. This makes the air very polluted again. Representatives of the Krakow Smog Alert (KAS) warn to choose other methods in the capital of Małopolska and neighboring municipalities that will reduce the risk of infection with a dangerous virus than the one suggested by scientists.
The conditions outside the window should be taken into account. Not only in Krakow, but also throughout Poland, because the problem of air pollution affects the entire country. The smog season has already started and one of the recommendations at that time is not to ventilate the apartment when there are high concentrations of suspended dust.
Ewa Lutomska from KAS
Air Quality in Krakow is deteriorating
In fact, the air quality in Krakow has deteriorated more and more in recent days. Particularly at night, the permissible standards are exceeded significantly. The concentration of PM 10 dust has recently been well above 100 micrograms per cubic meter (the acceptable daily standard is 50 µg / m3).
In Krakow, I do not recommend anyone to open windows at night. Air quality is actually deteriorating, the main reason being that residents of neighboring municipalities start heating their homes with coal and wood in the afternoon. And as we know, Krakow is located in a basin, these pollutants flow down to us and the air is of very poor quality at night
Ewa Lutomska from KAS
Invest in air purifiers!
If someone really wants to ventilate the room, it is rather during the day. – But before that, let’s check the air quality. In Krakow, the availability of tools for this purpose is high – emphasizes Lutomska. And he adds that, especially in autumn and winter, it is worth getting an air purifier, which can be an alternative to airing your apartments and houses.
From Gazeta Krakowska (article in PL language) – Nov 16th, 2020.
Until the end of December, the inhabitants of Krakow can use the salt cave free of charge under the “STOP SMOG – salt cave as a recipe for the effects of the urban smog” program.
After the break, there is a salt cave in the “Kurdwanów Nowy” Sports and Recreation Center in Krakow at ul. Wypouchów 34a. Residents of Krakow are entitled to purchase free tickets, however, prior reservation is required.
The grotto is open from Monday to Sunday according to the schedule. Registrations can be made at telephone number 12 654 53 55.
Read the Gazeta Krakowska article in Polish language here.
There are new proposals from the officials regarding an increase in ticket prices for public transport. They withdrew from the idea of introducing a 10-minute ticket, it would remain a 20-minute ticket, but it will become more expensive. City councilors are already announcing the tabling of amendments.
As they explained, the increases are necessary because the coronavirus pandemic had a negative impact on the city’s transport budget and if we want to maintain the pre-pandemic network and frequency of connections in the autumn, the increases are necessary.
However, officials constantly revise their proposals. Another one appeared in the Public Information Bulletin of the City of Krakow. Compared to the previous proposals, there are changes again.
New prices proposed – October 2020
Originally, it was planned that the 20-minute ticket, which now costs PLN 3.40, will be converted to a 10-minute ticket for PLN 3. However, officials withdrew from this idea. In the new proposal, there is no longer a 10-minute ticket, the 20-minute ticket would remain, but it would cost 4 zlotys, while the reduced one would cost 2.
A 50-minute ticket for PLN 4.60 was to be replaced with an hourly ticket for PLN 6. In another official proposal, the new price was even raised: to PLN 6.60.
City councilors on social media have already announced that they will be tabling amendments. “I will be submitting an amendment to keep the price of PLN 3.40 and PLN 4.60 for the inhabitants of Krakow” – announced Łukasz Wantuch.
What other changes?
There will be no more monthly tickets for one or two lines. The current monthly ticket for all lines on the Krakow Card, instead of PLN 69, is to cost PLN 96 (for zone I). Here, the previous proposal remained unchanged.
“The introduced restrictions, the need to provide additional courses, increasing the frequency of disinfection, a significant decrease in the number of passengers – as a consequence led to a drastic decrease in revenues from ticket sales – draw attention in the municipal authorities. Proceeds on this account at the end of August amounted to PLN 129 million, i.e. 56 million less than in the same period last year”.
Read the article in Polish language, under the Gazeta Krakowska site.
Bread, baked soup cups, because we are talking about them, are an unusual product of the Soup Culture brand, which was created and patented by them. From the beginning of the company’s activity, until today, Soup Culture soups operate in 10 countries. Poland is among them. This year, this month, this October, Krakow will join the group of cities where edible cups are already available.
When and where will Soup Culture open?
Healthy eating enthusiasts from Krakow will open their soup shop on October 16, at ul. st. Sebastiana 10, in Śródmieście. In the beginning, the offer will include over 50 flavors, composed into the weekly menu of cream soups, cooked without the addition of meat, food chemicals, flavor enhancers, or flour thickeners.
“The main idea of Soup Culture is to promote health, so the dishes are made of fresh and balanced products, often seasonal ones, and what impresses guests the most is the packaging in which the creams are served. Edible, freshly-baked mugs consist of a selected type of flour (wheat, whole grain, gluten-free) with the addition of water, vegetable oil, and spices” – we can read in the release sent to the media.
Be prepared, Krakow! Soup Culture is up!
An attractive, colorful range of colors is achieved by adding juice or powder from vegetables or algae: beetroot, carrot, spirulina. Soups and cups are prepared within the sight of customers, so a visit to Soup Culture is sometimes, apart from the logical effect of satisfying hunger, an attraction in itself.
“Customers record the mug-making process and pass on the news that when you want to be eco-friendly, you can” – we read in the press release.
About Soup Culture
The company started its existence in Kiev in 2014 with a simple goal – to limit the use of disposable dishes made of artificial materials in street food catering. In addition, she wanted to introduce a healthy, vegetarian product to the market, available in a convenient form, as an alternative to the increasingly inferior quality of fast food.
To this end, it created its own technology for the production of edible dishes and began to expand abroad. Poland was the first country to have its Soup Culture outside Ukraine. It was here that the creator of the edible cup oven came from Kyiv and here he created the production of machines that distinguish the brand on the catering market. The production created in Warsaw supplies all Soup Culture outlets in Poland and abroad with stoves.
Are you ready for Soup Culture?
If you wish to read the article in Polish language, click here.
I, for one, cannot wait to try this out!
Best regards,
The Twisted Red LadyBug that brings you the #KrakowNews
The train from Katowice to Krakow will take only one hour. It will be cheaper than the highway. PKP PLK has published an outline of the timetable!
The route from Katowice to Krakow has been the Achilles’ heel of the Polish railways for years. The delayed renovation, long journey times, and a small number of connections will finally be lost. From December, the fastest trains from the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship to Wawel will take up to an hour. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, which is responsible for the construction of the timetable, has just published an outline of the new timetable. Although this is not yet the official timetable, which will be in force from December this year, there is a high probability that it will look like this.
1 hour – 1h 15 min tops!
The train from Katowice to Krakow actually travels on three railway lines. On the Katowice-Mysłowice section it runs along the Oświęcim-Katowice line, then joins the Mysłowice-Jaworzno Szczakowa line, and then joins the Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice-Kraków Główny line. Recently, between Katowice and Kraków, repairs were carried out on the sections between Jaworzno Szczakowa and Trzebinia and between Trzebinia and Krzeszowice. In December, everything is to be in such a state that the accelerated train from Katowice to Krakow will travel this route in about an hour, and a passenger train stopping at all stations in about an hour and fifteen minutes.
Timetable outline published – not the final one!
The timetable outline published by PKP PLK provides for 18 passenger connections a day between Katowice and Krakow. Most of them are to be serviced by Polregio, but there will also be four courses of Koleje Śląskie. The trains of the regional carrier will depart from Katowice at 6.48, 11.25, 14.48, and 18.40, and return from Kraków Główny at 8.55, 13.02, 16.18, and 20.23. Trains of Koleje Śląskie between Katowice and Trzebinia will stop at all stations (Katowice Zawodzie, Katowice Szopienice Południowy, Mysłowice, Jaworzno Szczakowa, Jaworzno Ciężkowice, Balin, and Trzebinia), and between Trzebinia and Kraków only at the Kraków Business Park station and at the Main Railway Station in Krakow.
New train lines!
In addition to passenger trains, fast trains will also appear on the route between Katowice and Krakow, most of which a few years ago were directed through Częstochowa Stradom and Lubliniec. Now a lot will travel again through Katowice, but also from Jasna Góra there will be 3 connections to Krakow. The train will return to the Katowice-Krakow route, among others former Wawel train from Krakow to Berlin. The Roztocze train to Lublin will not run from Katowice but from Bohumin. Another novelty will be the TLK Sudety train from Kraków to Jelenia Góra via Katowice, Nysa, Dzierżoniów, Świdnica, and Wałbrzych.
The price of the ticket is yet unknown!
It is not known yet what the price of the ticket for the new connection will be. However, taking into account the kilometer distance by rail between Katowice and Krakow, the price for both carriers will be similar – in Koleje Śląskie it is PLN 17 for a normal ticket and in Polregio PLN 17.10. Of course, there will also be reduced tickets. It is possible that both carriers will decide on some promotions. Even without it, the train will be cheaper than using the A4 motorway, wherefrom the beginning of October the toll will be PLN 12 at each gate. It is also worth remembering that the center of Krakow is covered by a paid parking zone, and the station is located in the very center of the city.
The final shape of the timetable is to be known in November. The new timetable will enter into force on December 13 this year.
Original article in Polish language can be found over here.
From Monday, September 21, the frequency of tram lines in Krakow has changed. “The changes will consist in increasing the frequency of tram lines on weekdays from the current 10 and 20 minutes to 7.5 and 15 minutes” – inform city officials.
Trams number: 1, 3, 8, 18, 20, 50, 52 will run every 7.5 minutes throughout the day
Every 15 minutes throughout the day: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24
Every 15 minutes during rush hours only: 17, 44, 49
On days off, most tram lines will run every 20 minutes. Line 50, as at present, will run at selected times with an increased frequency up to 10 minutes.
Additionally, on Saturdays, at selected times, also line No. 52 will run with a frequency increased to 10 minutes.
Short notice #KrakowNews from The Twisted Red LadyBug 🙂
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