Alstom unveils with the Katowice municipality a bebok, a figurine representing a railway worker controlling the circulation of trains in front of our office
Alstom unveils with the Katowice municipality a bebok, a figurine representing a railway worker controlling the circulation of trains in front of our office
Poland/CEE Communication Director
Anna Zaluska
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Zwusik is a new bebok (a mythical Silesian creature) unveiled on June 9 in front of the Alstom plant in Katowice
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The figurine depicts a railway worker controlling train traffic – a reference to the specialization of this nearly century-old Katowice-based facility
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Across the city, there are now nearly one hundred of these distinctive figurines, each representing characters tied to Silesian culture
June 9, 2025 – In front of the Katowice signalling site of Alstom – a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility – a new bebok figurine was ceremoniously unveiled. The latest sculpture, designed and crafted by Katowice-based artist Grzegorz Chudy, now stands at the main entrance to Alstom’s office at 12 Modelarska Street.
The figurine stands by a railway signal and operates a device used for controlling train traffic. This is a direct reference to the specialisation of Alstom’s Katowice facility, one of the largest producers of modern railway signaling systems and equipment in Europe. The plant is responsible for the design, product development, testing, production, delivery, installation, and maintenance of these systems.
“Together with the entire Alstom team, we welcome the new bebok in front of our Katowice signalling site."
“Together with the entire Alstom team, we welcome the new bebok in front of our Katowice signalling site. The name Zwusik was proposed by employees in an internal naming contest and then selected by a company-wide vote. This nearly 100th figurine scattered across Katowice joins us just ahead of our company’s 100th anniversary. We’re proud that Zwusik will serve as a reminder of the tremendous contribution made by generations of our employees to the development of Katowice’s industry. We invite all Katowice residents and tourists to visit Zwusik and discover the fascinating history of Polish railways” - emphasised Adam Juretko, Managing Director of Alstom Poland’s Katowice branch.
The unveiling of the bebok coincides with the upcoming 100th anniversary of Alstom’s Katowice operations, planned for next year. The company was founded in 1926 as Zachodnio-Polska Budowa Telefonów (Zapotel) in Wełnowiec, now a district of Katowice. In the 1960s, the company, originally focused on telephone equipment, expanded into railway signaling systems and became known as Zakłady Wytwórcze Urządzeń Sygnalizacyjnych – hence the long-standing abbreviation ZWUS, still used by many Katowice residents and railway professionals. For decades, railway traffic control devices from the Katowice plant have been used across Poland, ensuring smooth rail operations.
Since 2021, the company has been part of the Alstom Group. It currently employs nearly 1,000 people, including highly skilled engineers, electronics specialists, and electromechanics who develop innovative technologies to ensure the safety and efficiency of rail traffic.
“Another bebok in our city reminds us not only of our long-standing industrial heritage, but above all of the groundbreaking innovations and technologies that are currently being created in Katowice. It is in our city that solutions and IT systems are developed, thanks to which trains in many countries can move safely and efficiently. We are proud of this and glad about the huge contribution of the Alstom site and its team to the development of Katowice,” emphasizes Mariusz Jankowski, Head of the Investor Service Department, the City of Katowice.
Small outdoor bebok figurines have been appearing throughout Katowice since 2021. Over time, they have become symbols of the Silesian capital and a way to celebrate local community ties. Each figurine is unique, depicting a friendly creature with attributes or attire specific to its location. Many tourists visiting Katowice follow the “Bebok Trail,” taking photos and collecting stamps that can be exchanged for a “Bebok Hunter” badge.
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