Sulechów–Luboń railway line

Sulechów–Luboń line
Sulechów–Luboń line
	Track near Granowo Nowotomyskie
Overview
Status	in use, partly closed
Locale	Poland
Termini	Sulechów; Luboń;
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Route number	357
History
Opened	1905
Technical
Line length	112 km (70 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	no
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map
Route map
	Legend

The Sulechów–Luboń railway line is a partly non-operational Polish 112-kilometre long railway line, that used to connect Sulechów with Wolsztyn, Luboń, and further to Poznań .

Opening

The line was opened in stages, the first section Sulechów - Wolsztyn was opened on 1 April 1905. Three months later, the line was extended to Grodzisk Wielkopolski. In July 1909 an extension was opened to Lubon.

Closure

The single-track line between Sulechów and Wolsztyn operated by Lubuska Regional Railways was closed to passenger services in 1994. In 2001 freight traffic on the line was suspended and in 2005 the line was closed. Currently, this section is impassable in several places due to missing tracks, in Okuninie and on the section between Chwalim - Kargowa. In 2015, the track between Sulechów - Powodowo was completely removed.

Modernisation

On 14 March 2011 the first stage of modernisation of the line between Wolsztyn and Poznan started. New tracks and sleepers were put in place, new platforms were built at Stęszew, Szreniawa and Wiry, railway crossings were modernised and a new signalling centre to control the trains on the line opened. This work was carried out within the framework of the Wielkopolska Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013, financed by European Regional Development Fund and national funds.

Renovation of the 73 kilometers of tracks cost 84 million zloty, 70% of this amount accounted for financing from EU funds under the Wielkopolska Regional Operational Programme (ROP) 2007-2013. After the modernization the trains can pass this route at a speed of 110 km per hour.

The line from Wolsztyn to Poznan was modernised under the supervision of a conservator as the modernisation efforts were made to preserve the historical appearance of the line on which passenger connections were operated by steam engines. For the duration of the works related to the modernisation of the railway line was closed, and services were serviced by bus replacement. On 11 December 2011, with the change of timetable of trains on the route, a direct rail service was restored.

Since 14 December 2014 trains stop at the new station of Grąblewo.

Usage

The line is used by trains on regional services between Wolsztyn, Grodzisk Wielkopolski and Poznan.

References

External links

Media related to Railway line 357 (Poland) at Wikimedia Commons