Katowice–Legnica railway

Sudeten Main Line
Sudeten main line in Prudnik. View of the railway towards Kędzierzyn-Koźle, on the right is a disused signal box
Overview
Native name	Polish: Magistrala Podsudeckacode: pol promoted to code: pl
Status	Operational
Owner	PKP PLK
Line number	137
Locale	Poland
Termini	Katowice Legnica
Connecting lines	See connecting lines
Stations	47
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	PKP Intercity Polregio Lower Silesian Railways Silesian Railways PKP Cargo Private railway companies
History
Commenced	1844
Opened	21 July 1844
Last extension	15 August 1876
Completed	1876
Technical
Line length	284.1 km (176.5 mi)
Number of tracks	Single and Dual track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Partly, 3 kV DC
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map

The Katowice–Legnica railway, also known as the Sudeten Main Line (Polish: Magistrala Podsudeckacode: pol promoted to code: pl ) is a 284.1 km (176.5 mi) long partly electrified mainline in Poland, connecting both cities of Katowice and Legnica. The railway is located within the borders of the Silesian, Opole, and Lower Silesian voivodeships, within the operational areas of the PKP PLK railway line units in Sosnowiec, Tarnowskie Góry, Opole, Wałbrzych, and Wrocław. The railway is called Sudeten Main Line due to the location along the Sudetes mountain range stretching from Prudnik to Legnica.

The railway was built and opened in sections between 1844 and 1876. It provided a connection between the industrialized settlements of the Sudeten Foreland and the mines of Upper Silesia. Prior to the nationalization of the railways, the railway was owned entirely by Upper Silesian Railway. From its inception, it was classified as a first-rate railway of major national importance.

The railway used to be numbered 74 according to D29 from 1949, the number changed to 103 in 1971, and changed to the current number 137 in 1985 where its current number is still being used today.

Route

Geography

The line starts at Katowice railway station at Środmieście in Katowice on the end point of the Warsaw–Katowice railway and the Oświęcim–Katowice railway, it heads west passing Katowice Załęże, Chorzów Batory, Świętochołcice, Ruda Śląska, Zabrze and Gliwice. From there, it continues through Gliwice Łabędy to Kędzierzyn-Koźle, where the Kędzierzyn-Koźle–Opole Groszowice railway begins.

The line still heads east passing Kędzierzyn Koźle Przystanek, Kędzierzyn Koźle Zachodnie, Głogówek, Racławice Śląskie and to Prudnik, where the Krapkowice–Prudnik railway ends. Next it runs through Nowy Świętów, Nysa, Otmuchów, Paczków and to Kamieniec Ząbkowicki where it crosses the Wrocław–Międzylesie railway.

From there, the line heads north through Ząbkowice Śląskie, Piława Górna, Dzierżoniów Śląski, Świdnica Miasto, Jaworzyna Śląska, where it crosses with line Wrocław Świebodzki–Zgorzelec railway, Strzegom, and Jawor. The line ends at Legnica railway station, where it connects with Wrocław Muchobór–Gubinek railway.

Connecting lines

Operational

• Warszawa Zachodnia–Katowice railway
• Oświęcim–Katowice railway
• Katowice –Zwardoń railway
• Chorzów Batory–Tczew railway
• Ruda Chebzie–Zabrze Biskupice railway
• Zabrze Biskupice–Gliwice railway
• Katowice Ligota–Gliwice railway
• Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway
• Toszek–Rudziniec Gliwicki railway
• Kędzierzyn-Koźle–Chałupki railway
• Kędzierzyn Koźle–Opole railway
• Krapkowice–Prudnik railway
• Nowy Świętów–Głuchołazy railway
• Opole–Nysa railway
• Nysa–Brzeg railway
• Wrocław–Międzylesie railway
• Bielawa–Dzierżoniów railway
• Wrocław–Jedlina Zdrój railway
• Wrocłąw Świebodzki–Zgorzelec railway
• Wielkie Piekary–Miłkowice railway
• Wrocław–Gubinek railway

Partly operational

• Malczyce–Grabina railway
• Jawor–Roztoka railway

Defunct

• Polska Cerekiew–Baborów railway
• Głubczyce–Racławice Śląskie railway
• Nowy Świętów–Sławniowice Nyskie railway
• Nysa–Kałków Łąka railway
• Nysa–Ścinawa Mała railway
• Otmuchów–Dziewiętlice railway
• Otmuchów–Przeworno railway
• Kamieniec Ząbkowicki–Złoty Stok railway
• Malczyce–Jawor railway

Under revitalization

• Kobierzyce–Piława Górna railway

Sections

The line is divided into 16 sections

• A: Katowice – Chorzów Batory (0,070 to 6,166)
• B: Chorzów Batory – Gliwice (6,166 to 27,100)
• C: Gliwice – Szobiszowice (27,100 to 28,530)
• D: Szobiszowice – Gliwice Łabędy (28,530 to 32,985)
• E: Gliwice Łabędy – Rudziniec Gliwicki (32,985 to 49,056)
• F: Rudziniec Gliwicki – Nowa Wieś (49,056 to 61,623)
• G: Nowa Wieś – Kędzierzyn-Koźle (61,623 to 64,162)
• H: Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Kędzierzyn-Koźle Zachodnie (64,162 to 70,150)
• J: Kędzierzyn-Koźle Zachodnie – Prudnik (70,150 to 111,696)
• K: Prudnik – Nysa (111,696 to 139,075)
• L: Nysa – Kamieniec Ząbkowicki (139,075 to 177,219)
• M: Kamieniec Ząbkowicki – Świdnica Miasto (177,219 to 226,796)
• N: Świdnica Miasto – Jaworzyna Śląska (226,796 to 236,765)
• O: Jaworzyna Śląska – Strzegom (236,765 to 247,227)
• P: Strzegom – Jawor (247,227 to 262,333)
• R: Jawor – Legnica (262,333 to 284,190)

External links

• Media related to Railway line 137 (Poland) at Wikimedia Commons
• Kędzierzyn-Koźle–Kamieniec Ząbkowicki section diagram - Jelenia Rail (in Polish)
• Kamieniec Ząbkowicki–Legnica section diagram - Jelenia Rail (in Polish)