Wrocław–Poznań railway

The Wrocław–Poznań railway is a 213-kilometre long (132 mi) Polish railway line, that connects southern Poland and Wrocław with Leszno, Poznań and further to Szczecin. The railway is part of European TEN-T route E59 from Scandinavia to Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

Wrocław–Poznań railway
Wrocław Główny
Overview
Status	in use
Locale	Poland
Termini	Wrocław Poznań
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Route number	271
History
Opened	1856 (1856)
Technical
Line length	164 km (102 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	3000 V DC
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph)
Route map Bytom–Wrocław railway to Opole Wrocław–Międzylesie railway to Międzylesie Wrocław–Jedlina-Zdrój railway to Jedlina-Zdrój Wrocław Główny Wrocław–Zgorzelec railway to Wałbrzych & Wrocław–Szczecin railway to Zielona Góra Berlin–Wrocław railway to Legnica Wrocław freight loop Wrocław Mikołajów Kalety–Wrocław railway to Kalety Berlin–Wrocław railway to Legnica Kalety–Wrocław railway to Kalety Wrocław Popowice Wrocław Różanka to Wrocław Sołtysowice Wrocław Osobowice Wrocław Świniary Szewce Pęgów Oborniki Śląskie Osola Skokowa to Żmigród test track Żmigród Garbce Korzeńsko Kobylin–Legnica Północna railway to Kobylin Rawicz Kobylin–Legnica Północna railway to Ścinawa Bojanowo Bojanowo—Góra Śląska railway to Góra Kaczkowo Rydzyna Łódź–Forst (Lausitz) railway to Głogów Leszno Leszno–Zbąszyń railway to Zbąszyń Łódź–Forst (Lausitz) railway to Ostrów Wielkopolski & Jarocin–Kąkolewo railway to Jarocin Lipno Nowe Górka Duchowna Stare Bojanowo Przysieka Stara Kościan–Opalenica railway to Grodzisk Wielkopolski Kościan Miejska Górka–Kościan railway to Gostyń Oborzyska Stare Mieszków–Czempiń railway to Mieszków Czempiń Iłowiec Drużyna Poznańska Mosina Puszczykówko Puszczykowo Sulechów–Luboń koło Poznania railway to Wolsztyn Luboń koło Poznania Poznań Dębiec Kluczbork–Poznań railway to Jarocin Warsaw-Kunowice railway to Rzepin Kluczbork–Poznań railway to Jarocin Poznań Główny Warsaw–Kunowice railway to Warsaw Poznań–Szczecin railway to Szczecin & Poznań–Piła railway to Piła

Opening

In 1853 a decision was made to build a railway line connecting Wrocław with Poznań. It obtained the concession for the construction Upper Silesian Railway (Oberschlesische Eisenbahn Gesellschaft), and construction started in Leszno, in three directions: to Wrocław, Poznań and Głogów. A prototype steam locomotive entered Leszno station from Rawicz on 27 September 1856, and the first regular train service started on 27 October 1856. The ceremonial opening of the line, involving city authorities and residents, took place 29 October 1856.

History

In the interwar period, Leszno station served as a border control station. On the railway the train service was limited to 2 passenger trains and express train 801/802 between Wroclaw and Gdańsk. From Poznan, two passenger trains reached Rawicz. Between Leszno and Wrocław there were 2 pairs of international passenger trains (without stopping in Lasocice, border control station in Leszno), and 3 pairs of trains to the border at Lasocice from Leszno. Here the border was on the line of today's border of Greater Poland Voivodeship and Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Electrification

Electrification of the lines around Leszno took place in three stages:

• 31 May 1969: - Poznań - Puszczykowko
• 20 December 1969: Puszczykowko - Leszno
• 22 April 1970: Leszno - Wrocław

Modernisation

Since 2010 PKP PLK has led the modernisation of railway line E59 between Wrocław and Poznań. The project is co-financed by the European Union. As a result of the works, the line speed will be increased up to 160 km/h and thereby travel time on the section between Wrocław and Poznań will be 75 minutes (for the fastest trains). In addition, the stations Leszno and Poznań will be the two local traffic control centres. Completion of the work was planned for 2014, but is expected to last until 2020. Along with modernising the tracks, stations are being improved and sound barriers are being built.

Usage

The line is used by the following service(s):

See also

• Railway lines of Poland

External links

Media related to Railway line 271 (Poland) at Wikimedia Commons