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
editThe line was opened in four stages:[1][2]
- October 1907: Szamotuły - Binino, Chrzypsko Wielkie - Międzychód
- April 1908: Binino - Nojewo, Nojewo - Chrzypsko Wielkie
Modernisation
editIn 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.[1]
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.[3] In 2012, a proposal was made to build a cycle route along the course of the railway, but this met negative feedback from residents.[4]
Closure
editIn 1995, passenger traffic was suspended along the route. Freight services were suspended from 3 May 1996 between Sieraków Wielkopolski and Szamotuły.[1] In later years, freight trains only ran between Sieraków Wielkopolski and Międzychód.[2]
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.[5][6]
Usage
editIn 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.[1] Since 2000, the line has occasionally been used for tourist trains using steam engines.[7]
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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d 50 years ago the line Międzychód - Szamotuły was in full bloom
- ^ a b Letter for the reactivation of the railway line No. 368 Szamotuły - Międzychód
- ^ Local Development Plan 2004-2013
- ^ Residents divided on the bike path on the former railway line
- ^ "Dz.U. 1996 nr 112 poz. 538" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2016-03-07.
- ^ "Dz.U. 2000 nr 13 poz. 156" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2016-03-06.
- ^ 2012 tourist excursion along the line