While things are certainly speeding up on the electromobility front, zero-emission cars still aren’t accessible for most of us. This, however, doesn’t mean that we have to sit and wait for the market to change – sometimes, reducing one’s emission rates can come from simply switching to public transport whenever possible. This is why the GZM Metropolis (Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia) has decided to revamp its Metropolitan Railroad Network, and issued a call for tenders to find the best way to go about it.
Developing a new concept for the Metropolitan Rails is the beginning of a long road which leads to the improvement of the public transportation [system]. – stated Lucjan Dec, Head of the Communication and Transport Department at GZM. As for the motivation for remodeling the railroads, the region’s administration cite the need for a better flow of traffic between cities. While rail-based mobility typically serves as a base method of public transport in highly developed metropolitan regions, recent data showed a decrease in its popularity in Silesia. GZM hopes that the project will bring trains back to the forefront, and restore the meaning of the Metropolitan Railroad Network within the region.
In order to find the best way to improve the rail-bound transportation, the Mmetropolis decided to turn towards science. Earlier this year, GZM had issued a call for tenders for the project, and eventually selected the team from the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice for the job. According to the contract, the full analysis will be published by December, and will provide guidance regarding topics such as the best suited technologies to implement in the region, potential vehicle purchasing options, and data regarding the most popular routes throughout the Metropolis. The team from the Silesian University of Technology will receive over 200 thousand zlotys for the final project.
We want to rebuild [the rail network] because this method of mobility can be really beneficial for roads, which are currently congested with cars. Even a small collision during rush hour can effectively paralyze traffic between several cities of the Metropolis.” – explains Kazimierz Karolczak, Chairman of the Board at GZM. The Silesian metropolis houses nearly 2,3 million people throughout its 41 cities, including major business centres of Katowice and Gliwice. Implementing changes capable of influencing traffic flow in such a large region will take a long time, so residents of the metropolis may need to wait as long as a decade before everything falls into place.
If you wish to stay on top of the mobility-related news in the region, make sure to join us in Katowice for Impact mobility rEVolution’18 on September 12-13th to get an insider’s scoop. See you there!
