Wilka–Zawidów railway
Non-passenger railway line in Poland and the Czech Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wilka–Zawidów railway is a single-track, non-electrified, freight-only railway line connecting Wilka railway junction in Wilka and Zawidów railway station in Zawidów in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of south-western Poland.
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- Wilka
- Zawidów
| Wilka–Zawidów railway | |
|---|---|
PKP class SU46 carrying freight on the line | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational; freight-only |
| Line number | PKP 344 |
| Locale | Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 1 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 July 1875 |
| Passenger services withdrawn | 3 April 2000 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 4.82 km (3.00 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Operating speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
Sometimes called the Zawidów–Černousy railway due to its cross-border connection with Černousy in the Czech Republic, the only station on the line is Zawidów.
History
The railway line opened on 1 July 1875. At the time, it was in the German Empire, which allowed passenger services to operate beyond what is now the Czech border.[1]
After World War II, the area came under Polish administration. As a result, the line was taken over by Polish State Railways. Passenger services towards Černousy (now in the Czech Republic) were immediately withdrawn, with Zawidów now serving as a terminus station.[2]
On 3 October 1948, Wilka 2 (eastern curve) of the Wilka railway junction opened, allowing trains to directly run towards Zgorzelec. Passenger services were withdrawn from the line on 3 April 2000.[1]
Border crossing
Due to border changes after World War II, a border crossing was established on the line between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Under a 1975 agreement, only freight trains could use the crossing. Inspections were carried out by the Zawidów Border Control Post (GPK Zawidów).[3]
This was followed by a 1996 agreement between Poland and the Czech Republic, also only allowing freight trains to use the crossing on the Poland–Czech Republic border.[4] The border crossing was abolished when Poland joined the Schengen Area in 2007.
