Echo Investment SA has been admitted to the 2nd stage of talks on the construction of an Integrated Transport Center at Poznań Główny railway station. Completion of the 2nd stage of negotiations is planned for mid 2009.

The 2nd stage of negotiations include, in addition to Echo Investment, TriGránit Holding, HB Reavis Group and Neinver Polska. The chosen companies are obliged to prepare and submit to PKP (Polish State Railways) a binding offer containing architectural and business concepts.

At this stage, PKP shall choose the investor who puts forward the most attractive offer for construction of the planned investment. According to PKP, the most important aspects of the application will be: the form of cooperation, the manner of completion of the investment project, the value of capital expenditures, conditions of project financing, the method of determining the profits resulting from the project, and the development programme proposed by the potential investor, comprising, among other things, further investment commitments, possible obligations in the field of protection of the environment and cultural goods, and other commitments.

Investments at Poznań Główny railway station are associated with Poznań’s preparations for the European Football Championships - EURO 2012. The aim to be achieved is the construction of an Integrated Transport Center, which will include railway station and bus station, a connection with the Poznań Fast Tramway, a shopping center, an office/conference center, a hotel, recreation facilities and parking. The winner of negotiations with the PKP Group will become a financial partner of the whole project, the land plot for which shall be provided by the organizer of the talks.

Commencement of construction is planned for 2010. Works connected with the railway station and bus station are to be completed before the beginning of the EURO 2012 Championships.

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PKP Group was established in 2001, the result of a restructuring process of the state enterprise, Polish State Railways. The aim of these changes was the separation – in accordance with European Union directives – of the transport activities of the railway from the management of the railway lines, and the creation of independent commercial legal entities, able to render services not only in the railway market. PKP Group is the fourth largest railway in Europe, and is represented in all international railway organizations.

www.pkp.pl