News

In the first week of October, the Metropolis of Upper Silesia and Zagłębie began a pilot program for passenger information displays using e-paper technology. Five different devices will be tested at selected Transport GZM stops for a year. Their functionality, weather resistance, power supply, and suitability for everyday passenger service will be assessed.

E-paper technology could be used in the future at both large and smaller stops – even where providing traditional power is difficult or expensive.

Five Displays, Various Solutions

As part of the pilot program, five e-paper displays were installed in GZM. The displays vary in size, information layout, mounting method, and power supply. This will allow for testing how each solution performs in various conditions.

The displays display information such as timetables, real-time departure times, maps of the surrounding area, and passenger announcements.

Two basic power supply methods will be tested. Smaller devices, mounted at the height of traditional timetables and equipped with buttons, will be battery-powered. The higher-mounted displays, like the current SDIP displays, will use a battery charged by a photovoltaic panel.

Where to find the new displays

Four cities have been selected for the installation of five pilot displays: Sosnowiec, Mikołów, Katowice, and Tychy.

Sosnowiec Wspólna – a 13-inch display with buttons and battery power. It displays real-time departure times, timetables, and announcements.

Mikołów Synagogi Square – a double 13-inch display. The lower section, equipped with buttons, is battery-powered. Here, passengers will find real-time departure times, timetables, announcements, and a map of the immediate area surrounding the stop.

Katowice Jordana – a 13-inch display without buttons, mounted high on a pole, similar to the current SDIP displays. It displays real-time departure times. Power is provided by a photovoltaic panel.

Tychy Ice Rink – a 31-inch display with buttons and battery power. Its left side displays information about actual departures, while the right side displays timetables, maps, and announcements.

Katowice Mickiewicza – a 31-inch display mounted high and powered by a photovoltaic panel. It is divided into two sections, each displaying actual departures from a different stop.

Remotely Updated Information

One of the key advantages of the tested technology is the ability to quickly and remotely update information. This applies to both dynamic data about actual departures and static timetables.

In the event of a timetable change, it will not be necessary to send an employee to the stop to update the printed information. Updates can be performed remotely.

E-paper can also be a solution for stops where installing a traditional SDIP display is difficult due to lack of access to the power grid. The cost of the e-paper sign itself is approximately three times lower than the current SDIP signs, and additionally, there's no need for a power connection, which can cost between PLN 5,000 and PLN 25,000.

One Year of Testing

The pilot project will last one year. During this time, GZM will test the technology's functionality in various weather conditions, as well as the durability and longevity of the batteries used, and the efficiency of the photovoltaic power supply.

Another important element of the pilot project will be collecting feedback from GZM residents and GZM Transport passengers. Their experiences will allow us to assess whether the information presented on the signs is legible, understandable, and convenient for everyday use of public transport. Feedback can be submitted by email to: tk@metropoliagzm.pl.

Accessibility for People with Disabilities

All pilot signs are equipped with speech synthesizer modules and buttons marked with Braille symbols. These buttons will allow blind and visually impaired people to access the information presented on the signs.

The e-paper displays are designed to ensure good visibility of the displayed information both during the day, in various weather conditions, and after dark thanks to the use of backlighting.

The pilot will allow for the verification not only of the technology itself but also of its practical application as a component of the GZM Transport passenger information system. The results of the annual tests will serve as the basis for assessing the feasibility of using e-paper displays on a larger scale.

Pesa Bydgoszcz and Newag have submitted bids in a tender for the supply of 32 electric multiple units for the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis and the Silesian Voivodeship. GZM plans to purchase 16 trains, which will be used by the Metropolitan Railway. Over PLN 2.15 billion has been allocated for the basic order. The first trains are scheduled to be delivered to GZM in the second quarter of 2029.

The tender was announced at the turn of January and February. On October 5th, two rolling stock manufacturers submitted bids.

Pesa Bydgoszcz S.A. offered to fulfill the basic order for PLN 2.998 billion gross, while the total value of the order, including the option rights, is PLN 6.969 billion gross. Newag S.A. submitted a bid for the basic order worth PLN 2.521 billion gross, and with the option rights, PLN 5.479 billion gross.

The amount allocated by the contracting authorities for the basic contract currently stands at PLN 2.154 billion. Before the contract is signed, the amounts included in the multi-year financial forecasts of GZM and the Silesian Voivodeship will be updated. The submitted bids are now being analyzed and evaluated according to the criteria specified in the tender documentation.

"Purchasing our own trains is one of the most important elements of building the Metropolitan Railway. For the first time in its history, GZM is purchasing its own rolling stock. In this way, we want to increase our capacity to organize transport and build the railway as the backbone of public transport in the metropolitan area. A joint procurement with the Silesian Voivodeship, on the other hand, allows us to combine the needs of both organizers and order a larger number of vehicles in a single procedure," says Leszek Pietraszek, Chairman of the GZM Management Board.

"With the support of European funds, funds from the National Transport Operational Programme (KPO), and the voivodeship budget, we are improving the quality and comfort of travel for residents and tourists. Our region has a unique structure. It consists of dozens of closely connected cities, and an efficient railway network determines the social, economic, and spatial cohesion of the entire conurbation." As a result, we will reach our destination quickly and comfortably. Trains avoid traffic jams on key arteries in the region. And our rolling stock within Koleje Śląskie is constantly being replenished and is among the most modern in Europe," says Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The procurement procedure was a major organizational and technical undertaking. During the preparation of bids, contractors submitted over 400 questions to the contracting authorities regarding the tender documentation, contract terms, and parameters of the future rolling stock.

32 trains in the basic procurement

The procurement is being jointly conducted by GZM and the Silesian Voivodeship. It covers 32 electric multiple units – 16 for each contracting authority. The procurement documentation also includes an option for a further 20 trains – 10 for GZM and 10 for the Silesian Voivodeship. The ability to exercise this option will depend on securing financing for this part of the procurement.

Joint procurement of a larger number of vehicles allows the contracting authorities to combine their needs and conduct a single procurement on a larger scale. This solution has increased interest in the order from rolling stock manufacturers.

A Modern Passenger Train

The new electric multiple units will be adapted to serve daily journeys within the Metropolitan and Regional Railways. The trains will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h, and each will have at least 186 seats and a total capacity of 390.

Planned equipment includes: air conditioning, charging sockets, bicycle storage, a passenger information system, two toilets, including one adapted for people with disabilities, a family zone with a table with educational themes, travel aids for standing passengers, an AED defibrillator, and a passenger counting system.

The trains will also be equipped with features that improve accessibility for people with disabilities. An induction loop will be installed throughout the passenger area, and doors designated for wheelchair users will be marked with large pictograms. The vehicles will also feature designated spaces for wheelchair users and seat grab bars to facilitate access for people with limited mobility.

First trains in 2029

GZM and the Silesian Voivodeship expect the first trains to be delivered in the second quarter of 2029. All trains under the initial order (32 units) are to be delivered by November 2029.

The purchase of the rolling stock is part of a broader project to develop rail transport in the Metropolis and the Silesian Voivodeship. As part of a competition conducted by the Centre for EU Transport Projects, GZM and the Silesian Voivodeship secured over PLN 646 million in EU funding for the purchase of electric multiple units.

On October 4th, from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Silesia Marathon participants will be able to use free public transport provided by Transport GZM. Passengers planning to use buses in Katowice, Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, or Mysłowice between 7:00 AM and 2:30 PM on that day should expect changes to the routes of individual lines.

Runners' eligibility for free travel will be verified based on their race number issued by the event organizer.

Passengers planning to use public transport in Katowice, Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, or Mysłowice on October 4th should expect disruptions. Detailed information can be found in a dedicated announcement.

The pilot phase of the new Dynamic Passenger Information System portal for the GZM Transport system has passed its halfway point. Since September 14th, passengers and public transport enthusiasts have submitted approximately 200 comments and suggested changes to ZTM. Approximately 50 of these have resulted in corrections.

The SDIP portal is one of the most important elements of the GZM Transport system. Thanks to its functionalities, such as real-time vehicle location, connection search, and virtual stop displays, it makes it easier for passengers to both plan and complete their public transport journeys. On September 14th, ZTM announced the pilot phase of the third version of the portal, created using artificial intelligence. The first weeks have shown that passenger feedback quickly began to translate into subsequent updates.

"We wanted the pilot to be a test of everyday use, not just a technical review. That's why we don't wait until the pilot is complete to make corrections. If passengers report an issue that we can quickly fix, we simply do so. This allows the portal to evolve throughout the pilot," says Michał Wadowski, Director of ZTM.

30,000 views. First improvements implemented

The number of views on the portal has already exceeded 30,000. The highest number of reports came immediately after the pilot project launched. In the first three days, passengers submitted 47, 60, and 27 comments, respectively. This number later dropped significantly. So far, improvements resulting from approximately 50 reports have been implemented.

"We are implementing changes to the portal every day, which means that with each passing day, the portal increasingly meets travelers' expectations. In this way, we are responding to the real needs of passengers and making their daily journeys easier. Modern technologies give us more and more options to make public transport information available quickly, in one place, and exactly when passengers need it," says Stanisław Korman, member of the GZM management board.

Some issues were resolved very quickly. A good example is the "locate me" function. On the first day, four people reported the need to add the ability to quickly pinpoint their location on the map.

"Of course, not every modification can be implemented immediately." Some comments require more detailed analysis, while others require implementing changes in the data or source systems. But that's precisely why we're collecting information now. We want to know not only what's working, but also what's bothering passengers and what they're missing," adds Adam Krakowczyk, Director of the IT Department at GZM.

The vehicle information panel was similar. Passengers noted that it took up too much screen space. In response, the vehicle details window can now be minimized. Vehicle tracking has also been enabled – portal users can set the map to stay in the frame.

The initial changes also affected the map itself. The portal now allows users to open it at their last location and with a selected zoom level. Filters have also been added, allowing them to display only selected or favorite routes, or, for example, bicycles that have been left outside stations.

Specific Travel Information

When tracking a vehicle, the portal now displays the time it will arrive at the next stop, not just the number of minutes it will take. This makes it easier for passengers to estimate travel time and plan transfers.

A vehicle trip number and crew view have also been added. This allows passengers to more precisely indicate which trip is being reported and see which vehicles are assigned to specific trips when reporting a problem.

Portal more convenient on smartphones

A large portion of the changes already implemented concerns the use of SDIP v3 on phones. The portal can now be installed as a so-called progressive web app. This is a website that looks and works like a regular mobile or desktop app and can be launched directly from the phone screen. Several people requested this feature. Simply open the browser menu on your phone with SDIP v3 open and select "Add to home screen" or "Install app."

Changes have also been made to the route search engine – an issue with scrolling results on phones has been resolved, as well as a message that obscured the search button.

"We're getting a really solid product."

The first half of the pilot resulted in not only comments but also many positive reviews. Users are highlighting, among other things, the improved functionality of the service. Clear information about delays, information on environmental issues in the connection search engine, and the pace of improvements.

So far, over 760 people have rated the portal in the survey. The average rating is 4.70 out of 5. The highest five-star rating was given by 631 users, representing 83% of all voters, while another 81 people gave the portal four stars. Four- and five-star ratings account for 93% of all votes. A total of 28 people gave one or two stars, representing 4% of all ratings.

The portal received equally positive reviews at the New Mobility Congress, which took place at the MCK in Katowice from September 23rd to 25th, 2026. Michał Wadowski, Director of the ZTM (Municipal Transport Authority) and Adam Krakowczyk, Director of the GZM IT Department, both attended, saying that they were most pleased with the interest shown by the audience immediately after the portal's presentation, as well as the very positive review of SDIP v3 by one of the most recognizable Polish technology portals. Spider's Web, in its article, described the portal as, "We're getting ready for a really solid product."

The changes don't end there. The pilot runs until October 13th.

So far, ZTM has implemented changes resulting from approximately 50 submissions. "We've analyzed all the comments. We've already implemented the most important adjustments. Others, such as those related to user experience (UX), require in-depth analysis, discussions, and decision-making by our team," says Adam Krakowczyk, Director of the GZM IT Department.

Despite receiving a significant number of submissions and ratings, ZTM emphasizes that the pilot is ongoing and further comments are welcome. Further updates will be based on analysis of both submitted submissions and user feedback, as well as on monitoring system usage. The new version of the SDIP portal is now available at https://sdip-dev.gzm.pl/.

In the first week of October, e-paper passenger information displays will appear at five stops in four cities in the Metropolitan Area. The trial will last one year.

The displays, which will be installed at selected stops, vary in size (from 13 to 31 inches), layout, and functions. Some have buttons that allow users to check the route and schedule of the selected line. All have a speech synthesizer and Braille buttons, so the information on the screen can also be listened to. The displays are clearly visible in all conditions and are illuminated at night.

What exactly will the displays show?

Primarily, real departure times, timetables, maps of the immediate area around the stop, and passenger announcements.

Why e-paper?

Changes to timetables can be made remotely, without having to replace printouts at the stop. The displays are battery-powered or powered by a solar panel. They don't require a power supply, so they will also be useful at stops where this was previously unavailable. They are also cheaper than the current SDIP signs.

Where will they be installed?

The new signs can be tested in practice at five stops:
Sosnowiec Wspólna, Mikołów Synagogi Square, Katowice Jordana, Katowice Mickiewicza, and Tychy Ice Rink.

The signs will be tested over the next year. During this time, you will be able to check how they perform in various weather conditions and how long their batteries last.