The Szamotuły–Międzychód railway is a former Polish 57-kilometre long railway line, that connected Szamotuły with Międzychód.
| Szamotuły–Międzychód | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | closed |
| Locale | Poland |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| Route number | 368 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Closed | 1995 passenger services 1996 freight services |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 57 km (35 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | no |
| Operating speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
Opening edit
The line was opened in four stages:[1][2]
- October 1907: Szamotuły - Binino, Chrzypsko Wielkie - Międzychód
- April 1908: Binino - Nojewo, Nojewo - Chrzypsko Wielkie
Modernisation edit
In 1977-1978 a major overhaul of the line took place, including stabilising embankments, replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers and replacement of the track.[3]
In 2004, the first plans to take over the line from PKP PLK and launch passenger services were announced, but this did not lead to anything.[4] In 2012, a proposal was made to build a cycle route along the course of the railway, but this met negative feedback from residents.[5]
Closure edit
In 1995, passenger traffic was suspended along the route. Freight services were suspended from 3 May 1996 between Sieraków Wielkopolski and Szamotuły.[6] In later years, freight trains only ran between Sieraków Wielkopolski and Międzychód.[7]
Despite the suspension of traffic on the line in 1996, the railway line remained in the list of railway lines of national importance until 2000.[8][9]
Usage edit
In the 1970s, passenger traffic from the station in Sierakowie was about 4,800 people per month, but this steadily decreased to 3,200 people in 1990.[10] Since 2000, the line has occasionally been used for tourist trains using steam engines.[11]
In August 2016, the section between Sieraków Wielkopolski and Lesionkami was used for manual trolley rides.
Gallery edit
-
Sieraków station -
Nojewo station -
Międzychód station
See also edit
References edit
- ^ 50 years ago the line Międzychód - Szamotuły was in full bloom
- ^ Letter for the reactivation of the railway line No. 368 Szamotuły - Międzychód
- ^ 50 years ago the line Międzychód - Szamotuły was in full bloom
- ^ Local Development Plan 2004-2013
- ^ Residents divided on the bike path on the former railway line
- ^ 50 years ago the line Międzychód - Szamotuły was in full bloom
- ^ Letter for the reactivation of the railway line No. 368 Szamotuły - Międzychód
- ^ http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19961120538
- ^ http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU20000130156
- ^ 50 years ago the line Międzychód - Szamotuły was in full bloom
- ^ 2012 tourist excursion along the line
- This article is based upon a translation of the Polish language version as of November 2016.