Rysiek, the Loyal Cat, Immortalized in Sculpture at Gdańsk Firoga Station

The Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna (PKM) has announced a special event to commemorate the extraordinary loyalty of Rysiek, a ginger cat who became a local and international sensation for his endearing habit of escorting his owners to the train station. The story, reminiscent of Roman Pisarski’s „The Dog Who Rode the Train,” was first shared by PKM employees a year ago and quickly gained widespread attention.

In their original post, PKM employees recounted how Rysiek would follow his owners, a mother and her young son, to the Kościerzyna train station. The cat would lovingly rub against them and meow as they waited for their train. Once they boarded, Rysiek would sit by a nearby bench, watching the train depart before making his way back home.

This touching narrative resonated deeply with people not just in Pomorze or Poland but around the world. To celebrate the first anniversary of sharing Rysiek’s story, PKM has decided to honor him with a statue at the Gdańsk Firoga station. The statue will depict Rysiek in his characteristic pose, sitting by a bench and gazing at the departing train.

The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for June 1st at 11:15 AM. The statue was crafted by Blanka Kamińska, a student from the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Both Rysiek and his owner will be present at the event, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to photograph the real Rysiek alongside his sculpted likeness.