The European Funds are transforming Polish railways – the modernised main station in Rzeszów is now open for all travellers

Passengers can now use the renovated facility, the reconstruction of which was funded by the European Funds for Eastern Poland programme. The subsidy of over PLN 30 million covered the costs of a major renovation, as well as equipping the station with additional modern solutions, the examples of which are: eco-friendly installations, a passenger information system, as well as numerous facilities for people with disabilities.

The project titled “Modernizacja dworca kolejowego Rzeszów Główny” (Modernisation of the Rzeszów Główny railway station) was subsidised from the EU funds – we signed an agreement with Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. (Polish State Railways). On 23 December 2024, thanks to the support provided, a comprehensive renovation of the station’s building, as well as its surroundings, was carried out.

The building, constructed in the second half of the 19th century, was seriously damaged during the Second World War. In the 1950s, its reconstruction was undertaken for the first time. However, only now, with the support from the European Funds, the building has regained its former glory. The major renovation included, among other things, the replacement of the façade, restoration of historic mosaics and a clock, as well as modernisation of the entire interior. Currently, the passengers can enjoy various amenities, like a spacious waiting room, brand-new benches, as well as an electronic passenger information system. The station is also adapted to cater to the needs of people with disabilities – they can now benefit from tactile paving, markings and information available in Braille, as well as various helpful amenities at the ticket offices. Moreover, the facility is now fully equipped with modern solutions, such as energy-efficient installations, LED lighting, an energy consumption management system, as well as video surveillance.

It is worth noting, that the investment carried out by PKP S.A., involving the renovation of the Rzeszów Główny railway station, is a part of a larger undertaking, which is Rzeszowskie Centrum Komunikacyjne (Rzeszów Communication Center). The scope of works also includes redevelopment of the area in front of the station, construction of an underground car park (realized by the city), as well as the modernisation of the elements of station’s infrastructure (realized by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe).  It has become a state-of-the-art transport hub, which integrates public bus and railway transport with road traffic. The Rzeszów Communication Center was established with the funding from the Eastern Poland Programme 2014–2020.

Eastern Poland focuses on railways

The first railway investment project implemented with the support of the European Funds for Eastern Poland (EFEP) programme was the renovation of the Rzeszów Główny railway station. The aim of the programme is to support modernisation and revitalisation efforts with the main focus on railway lines and stations, in order to improve the communication within the region, increase the scale of transport operations and facilitate access to work, services and transportation for residents of smaller towns and cities. A new aspect of the undertaking will be the focus on adapting the existing infrastructure to quickly and safely transport heavy loads – also for the needs of the military and law enforcement agencies. Passengers will also benefit from the modernisation – stations will be modern, safe and accessible to people with disabilities, while transfers between various means of transport will become more convenient. The call for proposals is open until 18 December 2025, while the budget is EUR 690 million.

About the EFEP programme

The European Funds for Eastern Poland programme covers six voivodeships: Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubelskie, Świętokrzyskie, Podkarpackie and a part of Mazowieckie. The aim of the programme, financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is to support business growth, green mobility, protection of biodiversity, modern energy networks, transport, as well as tourism. The budget for 2021–2027 is EUR 2.65 billion.

Photo: PKP S.A. press materials