30.01.2026 11:11

Quiet, modern, and emission-free. GZM's hydrogen buses are ready to go.

Public transport travel can be quiet, comfortable, and environmentally friendly. Passengers of the GZM Transport network know this, as the number of low-emission vehicles is steadily increasing. Now, even more will be added.

Eight modern hydrogen buses, ordered in the fall of 2024, were presented at their refueling point – at the ORLEN station on Murckowska Street in Katowice. Their purchase was made possible thanks to funds from the National Recovery Plan.

"We are treating the introduction of hydrogen buses as a pilot project. We want to see how this technology performs in everyday use," emphasizes Maciej Biskupski, Vice-Chairman of the GZM Management Board. "A low-emission fleet means cleaner air, quieter streets, and improved travel comfort for GZM residents. The new buses are also accessible to passengers with special needs. This makes public transport a viable alternative to cars."

GZM has decided to purchase eight hydrogen buses. Five of them will go to PKM Tychy, and three to PKM Katowice.

Katowice Mayor Marcin Krupa emphasizes that the city is consistently focusing on modern and eco-friendly public transport. "Events around the world show that it's worthwhile for our PKM buses to have a fleet of vehicles with various power sources. That's why in Katowice, in addition to electric buses, which will constitute over 20% of the entire fleet in April, we also have hybrid buses, CNG buses, and now also hydrogen vehicles. This is a low-emission fleet, while also being quiet and comfortable for passengers. It's worth noting that nearly 140 PKM Katowice diesel buses meet the Euro 6 emissions standard, meaning public transport in Katowice is operated with minimal impact on air quality," the Mayor adds.

Maciej Gramatyka, Mayor of Tychy, echoes his sentiments. "This is an important step for Tychy and confirmation that we are consistently developing as a modern city." Hydrogen buses offer real benefits for residents: cleaner air, less noise, and greater travel comfort. I'm glad that Tychy is part of this metropolitan transformation," he emphasizes.

"Hydrogen buses are completely emission-free – they emit no exhaust fumes, and their only byproduct is water vapor," says Igor Śmietański, Vice-Chairman of the GZM Management Board responsible for transport. "They make a real contribution to improving air quality in the Metropolis' cities and a healthier environment for residents. Modern hydrogen propulsion also means a quieter and more comfortable journey, with reduced noise and vibration. The new vehicles offer a high standard of equipment, including air conditioning, a passenger information system, monitoring, and facilities for people with disabilities. The introduction of hydrogen buses into regular service on the GZM Transport network also means access to future-oriented technologies today and an important step towards modern, sustainable public transport in the Metropolis.

Low costs, negligible risks, incommensurable benefits

The vehicles are now ready for daily operation. For public transport operators, this is also an opportunity to test the new technology in everyday use. While hydrogen fuel is still not cheap, it's worth remembering that its purchase is essentially the only cost incurred by PKM buses. The purchase of the vehicles was made possible thanks to nearly 90% funding from the National Recovery Plan, and all costs related to servicing, repairs, and replacement of key components remain the manufacturer's responsibility. The fuel cells are covered by a 10-year warranty, and the energy storage units are covered by a 15-year warranty.

"We live in a time when transformation is changing all the time," says Professor Zygmunt Łukaszczyk from the Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Hydrogen Technologies at the Silesian University of Technology in Rybnik. "Therefore, we must take a step forward. Hydrogen buses have many advantages. First and foremost, they offer a long range, which is an extremely important solution in metropolitan areas with long and continuous lines. Secondly, they are characterized by rapid refueling and a high level of safety." The water vapor emerging from the exhaust pipe best captures the essence of this technology – the buses are zero-emission and contribute significantly to improving air quality – adds Professor Łukaszczyk.

Future Technology

A hydrogen bus is, in practice, an electric vehicle with its own energy source. Electricity is generated continuously in a fuel cell from hydrogen and oxygen extracted from the air. This process does not involve combustion – only water vapor is emitted from the exhaust pipe. A single refueling, lasting approximately 15 minutes, allows for a travel distance of at least 450 kilometers.

The new buses will be refueled at the ORLEN station in Katowice.

“Hydrogen is becoming the standard for modern public transport – it already allows local governments to significantly reduce emissions, improve air quality, and reduce noise,” says Jakub Lubiński, Director of the Hydrogen Technologies Office at ORLEN. “We want to pursue this development as much as possible.”

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Implementation of the Transport GZM system

On September 28, we will say goodbye to the ŚKUP system. The data contained in it will be transferred to the Transport GZM system. Therefore, gradually, earlier in advance, further functionalities in the existing system will be switched off.

At all times, passengers will be able to make all transactions in the new system – in the mobile application and in the Transport GZM portal, which replace the ŚKUP system. ŚKUP cards will also remain in use during this time, except for the situations listed below.

Order new cards

On September 13, the possibility of submitting applications in the Customer Portal and ordering new ŚKUP cards with shipping to the address was disabled. If your card expires in September, you can use it until the end of the month. Previously issued ŚKUP cards with a longer term remain valid and can be used as an account identifier in the new system. The new Transport GZM cards will be available from 1 October at kiosks, ticket machines at stops and at Passenger Service Points.

On 22 September, the possibility of ordering new ŚKUP cards at Passenger Service Points and ticket machines will also be disabled.

Restrictions on access to the e-purse

After September 22, the possibility of using the funds accumulated in the e-purse will be suspended in the ŚKUP system. If you plan to pay with these funds for tickets (e.g. for a long-term ticket ending in the meantime) – do it before this date. Until that day, you can also refund funds from the e-purse, which is tantamount to closing the account.

Access to funds in the e-purse will be unlocked on October 1 – you will then be able to migrate them to your account in the new system. This will be possible both on the Transport GZM portal and at the Passenger Service Point.

Key days in the process

September 27 is the last day of making transactions in the ŚKUP system. They will be possible to perform them in cash, at kiosks and Passenger Service Points, and cashless (by card, quick transfer) on the ŚKUP portal and mobile application.

On September 28, the ŚKUP system will be switched off. Long-term tickets previously recorded on ŚKUP cards will be valid and visible to the inspector during a possible inspection. From that day on, you will not use single, medium-term and package tickets saved on the card.

No tickets or cash from the ŚKUP system will be "lost". You will be able to use them in the GZM Transport system.

For the whole process, the most important thing is to set up an account in the new Transport GZM system. From October, users of the Transport GZM system will be able to migrate data from their ŚKUP cards. This process will be different for passengers who already have accounts in Transport GZM and those who will only set up such accounts.

A passenger who already has a personal account in the Transport GZM system will have to log in to his account in the transportgzm.pl portal to migrate his data from the ŚKUP system (the migration process can only be carried out in the portal, it will not work from the mobile application). After logging in, the system will verify on the basis of the PESEL number whether there is an account of this passenger in the ŚKUP system. If such an account exists in the ŚKUP system, the portal will prompt the passenger whether he wants to migrate data from this ŚKUP account (cards). The passenger can choose the "yes" option, which will download coded discounts from the old ticket account and enable the transfer of funds from the e-purse of the ŚKUP card.

If the passenger selects the "no" option, the system will not proceed with data migration. The vast majority of cards in the system are blank cards on which there are no coded tickets or other information. In this case, migration is not needed. The passenger can also choose "ask later" and proceed to the process at a convenient time.

A passenger who does not yet have an account in the Transport GZM system and will create an account, will be asked in the process of creating an account whether he has a ŚKUP card. When the passenger provides the number of this card, four digits of the account account number (printed on the back of the ŚKUP card) and four digits of the PESEL number, the process of migrating data from his ŚKUP card to the newly created account in the Transport GZM system will be carried out. All data from the old system will be transferred to the new account. Not only tickets, discounts and e-purses, but also personal and contact details. Personal and contact details can be easily edited in the new system.

Migration is subject to long-term and package tickets saved on the card. After migration, the passenger will find them in the "my tickets" tab of the web application or the Transport GZM customer portal.

Single and medium-term tickets (Day, 24h + train) will not be migrated. The system will give you back the cash that will appear as cash Transport GZM.

Discounts recorded on the ŚKUP card are subject to migration, however, if the passenger has already defined discounts in the new system, discounts from the ŚKUP card will not be migrated.

If the ŚKUP card has funds stored in an e-purse, the passenger will be asked whether he wants to transfer these funds to the new system or withdraw them to the bank account number indicated by him.

To learn more or solve the difficulties encountered, please contact the ZTM helpline: 800 16 30 30. All information will also be available on the transportgzm.pl portal and on our social media profiles.

The new application and portal of Transport GZM

The new Transport GZM application is now available in the Play Store and Apple Store. Passengers can also use the new portal transportgzm.pl.

The new system will eventually replace ŚKUP cards and will help passengers travel comfortably by public transport in the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis.

The system works fully online. Passengers no longer have to encode their tickets on cards or wait for them to appear on their account. Tickets are available to passengers immediately after purchase. Transport GZM is also the only mobile application thanks to which we can buy all tickets available in the tariff, not only single tickets, but also package and long-term tickets (monthly, quarterly or semi-annually).

Creating an account in the new system is simple and intuitive. It is also possible to migrate data from an already existing ŚKUP account. The new system does not require a plastic card, it can be used both with the phone itself and with an ordinary bank card. New Metrocards are issued to passengers who have got used to this form of identifier and want to continue using it.

In the near future, the application will receive further functionalities, including Start/Stop travel, which will certainly be an ideal solution for those who travel short distances or use transfers.