According to the decision of the City Board of Warsaw, the first stage of the changes in the ticket tariff will come into force on 16th August. The second stage will be implemented on 1st January, 2013, and the third stage a year later. Please familiarize yourself with the details of the new tariff (attached). Additionally we publish information justifying the new tariff implementation.
Warsaw Public Transport becomes better and more comfortable
Warsaw systematically develops road and transport infrastructure and increases standards of public transport functioning. As a result, the capital has a transport system that has achieved one of the highest evaluations in Europe. Simultaneously, comparing to other European capitals and some larger Polish cities, it has low ticket tariffs. The change in the ticket price will enable further development of public transport and improvement of life comfort in the capital.
Satisfaction of Warsaw inhabitants with public transport has increased significantly during the past four years. Investments in modern means of transport (buses, trams, tube trains, and SKM) as well as the solutions facilitating Warsaw inhabitants use of public transport (new ticket machines, diverse tickets, or online travel planner) are the activities which have enhanced the standards of public transport in the past years.
WHY IS THE TICKET TARIFF CHANGE NECESSARY?
1. Hundreds of new buses, trams, tube trains and FUR trains on Warsaw streets
Municipal transport companies improve the quality of services systematically replacing the existing trains with modern ones which comply with increasing requirements for travel safety and comfort as well as meet the environmental protection standards.
Under the replacement plan:
The Warsaw Underground has bought 10 new trains. The winning tender for the next 35 trains (operating on the second Underground line in future) has been already selected.
By the end of 2013, all 186 SWING low-floor trams ordered by Tramwaje Warszawskie will have been running on the capital’s streets.
MZA plans to sign an agreement to purchase 168 low-floor buses with air-conditioning including 20 10 meters long buses, 36 12 meters long buses and 112 articulated buses. Ecological hybrid vehicles will be introduced in the city for the first time.
MZA also plans to purchase another 100-170 low-floor buses at the end of the year. The supplies will enable withdrawing the old buses: ikarus, jelcz and neoplan. This year MZA will withdraw over 200 old buses.
Fast Urban Railway, which operates between Pruszków and Otwock (line S1), between West Railway Station (Dw. Zachodni) and Sulejówek Miłosna (line S2), and between Warszawa Gdańska – Legionowo (line S9), has purchased 13 trains for 299 mln PLN. It is also going to lease another 6 trains for approximately 250 mln PLN. They will be included into the existing lines and in future, into the line which will transport passengers to the Fryderyk Chopin airport.
In response to the transport needs of the inhabitants the city increases rail and bus transport frequency as well as establishes new lines. In order to increase access to the rail transport the Underground’s operating hours at weekends have been extended.
2. Large transport investments improve functioning of the city
There are important transport investments carried out in Warsaw: construction of the second line of the Underground and Most Północny (North Bridge) with a tramway towards Białołęka. There are also plans to build a tramway lane along Sobieskiego Street towards Wilanów, a line leading to Gocław, to extend the tramway line on Kasprzaka Street, to built a tramway line from Dworzec Zachodni (West Railway Station) to Banacha Street and to extend the tramway line along Modlińska Street (from Żerań terminal to the constructed line towards Tarchomin). Till the end of the year, the construction of the tramway line joining Górczewska and Radiowa Street along Powstańców Śląskich Street should be also finished.
3. Actual cost of passenger transport
The city covers a significant part of the public transport costs. In case of a single fare ticket that costs 2.80 PLN, Warsaw city covers another 5.20 PLN. Warsaw is one of the cities having the lowest income from the tickets which influences low degree of covering the transport costs, and without changing the tariff, further development of Warsaw public transport could be impeded. Moreover, this proportion has a downward tendency (in 2003 it was 47per cent and in 2010 only 34.05per cent). As a result of the tariff change, this ratio will increase to almost 43 per cent. Unfortunately, fixed ticket prices cause that income from the ticket sale reimburses a lesser and lesser portion of the Warsaw transport expenses every year.
Percentage of covering expenses with income from ticket sale:
2008 – 38.40 per cent
2009 – 36.95 per cent
2010 – 34.05 per cent
Development of the transport network in Warsaw and an ambitious investment program make the transport expenses increase each year.
Transport expenses:
2008 – 1.4 billion PLN
2009 – 1.55 billion PLN
2010 – 1.7 billion PLN
4. Higher VAT = higher transport costs
The conditions of transport services change. VAT rates for transport services has increased from 7 to 8% and there is a stipulation of further increase within the next years.
5. The prices of fuel and electricity have risen
Since the last price change in 2008, the prices of the basic elements (fuel and electricity) of transport service costs have increased. In 2008, one MWh cost 155.40 PLN, in 2010 it increased by 40 PLN (195.32 PLN). The average price for one litre of petrol in 2008 was 4.32 PLN. At present, one litre of petrol costs between 5.12 and 5.27 PLN.
6. The prices of tickets in Warsaw in comparison to the other European and Polish cities are low.
Warsaw public transport fare is lower than in other capitals of Central Europe. A 30-day travel card costs 125.40 PLN in Vilnius, in Riga 255.63, in Berlin 290 PLN and in Prague 320 PLN.
A similar situation is in some of Polish cities. In Poznań single a fare ticket for ordinary lines costs 3 PLN, and fast lines 4.40 PLN. Opole has the highest fares. For one day journey a passenger has to pay 2.30 PLN but one night journey costs 6.40 PLN.
Warsaw 30-day personal Travelcard for the first zone costs 78 PLN. It entitles to travel by all day and night lines and to an unlimited number of journeys during these 30 days. In Poznań such ticket costs 81 PLN, in Lublin 84 PLN and in Gdynia 86 PLN. The difference between the price of a long-term ticket in Warsaw and in Olsztyn is even bigger. Passengers pay 98 PLN in Olsztyn. The highest prices for the long-term tickets are in Szczecin and Toruń. The tickets include also fast lines and cost 138 and 140 PLN respectively.
There is also a big difference in prices as far as 90-day tickets are concerned. Such a long-term personal travel card costs 196 PLN. The owner of the travel card can use all day and night lines. The prices for such travel cards are the following: Lublin – 216 PLN, Poznań – 236 PLN, Katowice – 240 PLN. However, in Kraków such a ticket costs 276.40 PLN and in Szczecin 360 PLN.
7. Fast development of public transport
The tariff change is beneficial to everyone in the long run. The rise of expenses is necessary in order to ensure sustainable development of public transport. If the city cannot afford the development of public transport, the increase of expenses for individual transport will be inevitable. This will result in intensified road traffic, more traffic jams, as well as larger air pollution and noise.
8. Warsaw has the biggest number of public transport vehicles that carry the largest number of passengers in Poland.
There are more then 1.5 thousand buses, 780 trams, 192 metro trains and 11 SKM trains in Warsaw. Comparing to other cities, in Kraków, there are 476 buses and 331 trams; in Gdańsk, there are 224 buses and 95 trams; in Poznań, there are 232 buses and 272 trams; in Łódź, there are 315 buses and 362 trams; in Wrocław, there are 308 buses and 350 trams. In 2010, for the period of 6 months, almost 460 mln of passengers used public transport in Warsaw, approximately 170 mln in Kraków, about 75 mln in Gdańsk, little over 100 mln in Poznań (the data are quoted from the statistic data published in “Komunikacja miejska w liczbach” by the Chamber of Urban Transport – the data for 6 months of 2010).
9. The more funds the city has the greater chances for financing important projects by the EU
The income from the new ticket tariff will be allocated for the design of next seven stations of the second line of metro. In 2013 the European Commission will decide which investments will be funded between the years 2014-2020. The ready-made designs of the stations and building permits will increase the chance to obtain additional funds.
New ticket tariffs
The new ticket tariff will be in force from 16 August 2011. The reform of ticket prices will be carried out in three stages: during the first stage the prices will increase approximately by 30.86 per cent, then from 1 January 2013 by 24.31per cent and a year later by 18.42 per cent. The price of the 90- and 30-day Travelcards will rise the least. During the first stage of the changes the 30-day Travelcard will cost 12 PLN more. After the last change, from January 2014 this travelcard will cost 112 PLN. The price of the single fare tickets will rise from 2.80 PLN to 5.20 PLN. Also the least popular tickets such as, off-peak hours, 7-day, and 90-minutes ticket, will be cancelled.
Published 27 May 2011
Last modified 3 June 2019
