Lodz Agglomeration Railway
Lodz Agglomeration Railway (Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna) is a regional railway and bus operator based in the Lodzkie Region. With an expanding network, our trains now serve major Polish cities such as Warsaw, Poznań, Radom, Częstochowa, Kielce and Płock. We link communities across the Lodzkie Region, fostering social, economic and territorial cohesion.
ŁKA in figures:
- 80 million passengers
- 215 railway stations in 5 regions
- 53 rail vehicles
- 27 minibuses
- 20 buses
- 13 bus connections
Rolling stock
ŁKA currently operates a fleet of 53 rail vehicles.
We continuously invest in modern rolling stock to accommodate more passengers. Thanks to the high reliability of our fleet, we are able to utilize nearly 100% of our vehicles for transport operations.
ŁKA rail fleet
- 10 two-unit rail vehicles
Stadler FLIRT 3 L-4268 - 10 three-unit rail vehicles
Stadler FLIRT 3 LM-4268 - 14 three-unit rail vehicles
Newag Impuls 2 36WEd - 5 three-unit rail vehicles
Newag Impuls 2 36WEha - 14 three-unit rail vehicles
Pesa ELF 3.0 60WE
The Railway Bus Service, operated by Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna, aims to provide residents of areas remote from railway infrastructure with convenient access to stations and seamless continuation of their journey by rail. The service is available on a single ticket, within the railway fare system. The bus timetable is synchronized with the ŁKA train schedule.
ŁKA bus fleet
- 14 Mercedes mini buses
- 20 Solaris buses
Technical depot
- Area: 4.5 hectares
- Technological hall: 140 meters long and 40 meters wide
- 4 indoor tracks
- Rolling stock washing plant: operates in a closed water circulation system with a sewage pre-treatment plant
- Hall equipped with:
- underfloor wheel lathe
- laser wheel measuring station
- wheel pressure measuring device
- de-icing equipment
- P1, P2, P3 inspections available on-site
- Co-financed by European Funds
Ecology in ŁKA
The depot is powered by its own photovoltaic installations. In 2024, the panels produced 279.4 MWh of energy, fully covering the depot’s non-traction energy needs.
Energy efficiency initiatives
Recuperation and eco-driving
Implementation of SENSUM software as part of eco-driving
Active participation in the work of CEEK
In 2028, ŁKA electric trains will operate exclusively on power from renewable energy sources (RES).
Accessibility
ŁKA operates modern trains fully accessible to passengers with disabilities. This commitment to accessibility is complemented by various other features, particularly focused on information and communication accessibility. ŁKA is a Zero Project 2022 award winner and is recognized among the world’s best accessibility initiatives.
Regional engagement
Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna stays close to its passengers by actively participating in events across the Łódź Voivodeship, including local celebrations, festivals, European Funds events and cultural initiatives. During these events, ŁKA promotes its rail services and Kolejowa Komunikacja Autobusowa (Rail Bus Service), which provides free connections to railway stations from smaller towns and helps prevent transport exclusion. ŁKA also provides convenient travel to cultural events and special excursions organized by the Łódź Voivodeship.
Development
The ŁKA project has been co-financed by the European Union, with a subsidy of over 126 million euros. EU funds were allocated for the purchase of modern rolling stock and the construction of technical facilities for train servicing.
| Project title | Program | Project value | Co-financing from the EU | Implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Construction of the Łódź Agglomeration Railway system”: the purchase of 20 new EMUs and the construction of the technical depot for the ŁKA rolling stock | Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment 2007–2013 | 106 000 000€ | 69 000 000€ | Completed |
| “Construction of the Łódź Agglomeration Railway, Stage II”: the purchase of 10 new, three-unit electric multiple units | Regional Operational Program of the Łódź Voivodeship for the years 2014–2020 | 55 000 000€ | 38 000 000€ | Completed |
| The project “Construction of the Łódź Agglomeration Railway Stage III”: extension by a third unit together with a rolling depot of 10 owned two-section electric multiple units | Regional Operational Program of the Łódź Voivodeship for the years 2014–2020 | 16 000 000€ | 11 000 000€ | Completed |
| “Construction of the Łódź Agglomeration Railway Stage IV”: the purchase of 6 new, three-unit, double-driver multiple units – powered by the 3 kV DC traction network and diesel engines (hybrids) | Regional Operational Program of the Łódź Voivodeship for the years 2014–2020 | 18 000 000€ | 12 000 000€ | Completed |
| “Construction of the Łódź Agglomeration Railway Stage V”: the purchase of 2 new, three-unit, double-driver multiple units – powered by the 3 kV DC traction network and diesel engines (hybrids) | Regional Operational Program of the Łódź Voivodeship for the years 2014–2020 | 12 000 000€ | 8 000 000€ | Completed |
| Total: | 207 000 000€ | 138 000 000€ | ||