Rail transport in Gliwice

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The history of rail transport in Gliwice began in the first half of the 19th century. The Gliwice railway station ranks among the largest in the Katowice urban area and is classified as a Category A station by the Polish State Railways. Gliwice serves as a hub for international railways, including the E30  [ pl ] and CE30, connecting Dresden with Lviv. The city hosts the Newag Gliwice facility, the Gliwice Wagon Factory, and an intermodal terminal at Gliwice Port  [ pl ], integrating rail, river, and road transport.

Contents

History

Railway map of the German Empire from 1849 Bahnkarte Deutschland 1849.jpg
Railway map of the German Empire from 1849
SVT 137 Flying Silesian as a museum exhibit in Delitzsch SVT Leipzig.jpg
SVT 137 Flying Silesian as a museum exhibit in Delitzsch

Prussian period

In 1816, Carl Johann Bernhard Karsten proposed the first railway project to connect Upper Silesia with Wrocław. The double-track, steam-powered line, spanning over 200 km, was primarily designed for coal transport, with provisions for passenger services. The project was rejected in Berlin due to the lower cost of transporting coal via the Oder river. [1]

On 3 June 1836, the Silesian bourgeoisie established the Founding Committee of the Upper Silesian Railway (German: Oberschlesische Eisenbahn), led by Count Püchler, president of Oppeln. Disputes over the route eastward from Opole limited initial construction to the section from Wrocław to Opole Zachodnie, completed on 29 May 1843. [2] The final route from Opole to Nowy Bieruń  [ pl ] via Gliwice was approved in October 1842. The section to Gliwice opened on 2 October 1845, followed by Świętochłowice  [ pl ] two weeks later. The line reached Mysłowice  [ pl ] on 3 October 1846, though the planned extension to Bieruń was never built. [1] The 196.3 km line was inaugurated by Prussian King Frederick William IV. [3] The Gliwice Łabędy railway station  [ pl ] (German: Laband) also opened in 1846. [2]

In 1846, Gliwice connected to the Prussian railway network via the Berlin–Wrocław railway (German: Niederschlesisch-Märkische Eisenbahn), linking Berlin with Wrocław. [2] In 1847, connections to the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria were established through the Kraków–Upper Silesia railway  [ pl ] (German: Krakau-Oberschlesische Eisenbahn), connecting Kraków to Mysłowice  [ pl ]. Two years later, access to the Congress Poland was enabled via the Warsaw–Vienna railway. [2]

In 1872, the Upper Silesian Railway opened a line to Bytom, and in 1879, a second line to Opole, bypassing Kędzierzyn-Koźle  [ pl ]. [2] In 1883, the railway was nationalized by the Royal Prussian Railway Administration (German: Königlich Preußische Eisenbahn-Verwaltung), which opened a line to Katowice Ligota  [ pl ] in 1904. In 1924, Polish State Railways opened a line from the Polish-German border at Gierałtowice  [ pl ], enabling a direct connection to Rybnik  [ pl ], located in Poland after World War I. [2]

In 1895, wagon repair workshops (German: Hauptreparatur-Werkstatt) were commissioned, later becoming the Gliwice Wagon Factory Holding S.A.. [3] On 1 October 1904, the Royal Railway Locomotive Workshops (German: Königliche Eisenbahn-Lokomotivwerkstätte) began operations, functioning as the Locomotive Repair Plant from 1971. [4]

On 25 March 1899, the Upper Silesian Steam Tramways  [ pl ] (German: Oberschlesische Dampfstrassenbahnen AG, ODS) opened a narrow-gauge line with a 785 mm gauge from Gliwice Trynek  [ pl ] to Rudy  [ pl ]. The Gliwice–Racibórz railway  [ pl ] was completed in Ratibor Plania  [ pl ] in 1903. [5]

In 1913, the first plan to expand the station to its current size was proposed, undergoing several revisions before implementation. Reconstruction of the station's surroundings began in 1923, with the station itself starting on 24 April 1924 and completed on 9 December 1925. [3]

From 15 May 1936 to 21 August 1939, the Flying Silesian  [ pl ] (German: Fliegender Schlesier), a luxury express train, operated between Berlin-Charlottenburg and Bytom via Gliwice. Reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h, it was among the fastest trains globally at the time, with a journey from Bytom to Berlin Silesian Station taking 4 hours and 24 minutes. [6]

In 1939, the Gliwice Canal (German: Gleiwitzer Kanal) was completed, ending at the Gliwice Port  [ pl ] in Łabędy  [ pl ], served by the Gliwice Port railway station  [ pl ]. [3]

Polish period

Elf of Koleje Slaskie at Gliwice railway station EN76-006 slaskie.jpg
Elf of Koleje Śląskie at Gliwice railway station
Commemorative plaque on the Gliwice railway station building 165latGWK.jpg
Commemorative plaque on the Gliwice railway station building

In December 1952, an express connection to Warsaw was launched using a diesel railcar MsBx  [ pl ], replaced in 1958 by an electric multiple unit E58  [ pl ] as the express Górnik. [3]

In the 1950s, intensive railway electrification began: the line to Katowice was electrified on 1 June 1957, to Opole via Strzelce Opolskie on 3 October 1960, to Kędzierzyn-Koźle  [ pl ] on 18 July 1962, to Katowice Ligota  [ pl ] on 8 September 1977, and to Bytom on 23 December 1980. [2]

Starting in the 1960s, passenger services were gradually discontinued: to Racibórz Markowice  [ pl ] on 1 July 1966, [7] to Lubliniec on 15 October 1973, [2] to Rudy  [ pl ] on 4 November 1991, [5] to Jastrzębie Zdrój  [ pl ] on 9 January 1995, to Katowice Ligota  [ pl ] and beyond on 1 June 1997, and to Rybnik  [ pl ] on 28 November 2000. [2] The connection to Bytom was discontinued on 31 July 2001, reactivated on 31 January 2008, [8] and suspended again on 1 March 2012. [9]

In 1992, the Górnik express was reclassified as an InterCity service, becoming the first InterCity train to stop in Gliwice. In 1993, the station was expanded with a fourth platform, constructed by dismantling the third baggage platform. [3]

In 2010, revitalization began on the line to Opole (lines Katowice–Legnica railway  [ pl ], Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway  [ pl ], and Bytom–Wrocław railway). [10] [11] On 1 October 2011, Koleje Śląskie launched trains on the Gliwice–Częstochowa route. [12] On 1 February 2013, Koleje Śląskie reactivated the Gliwice–Bytom line, [13] but suspended it again on 1 June 2013. [14] In 2013, revitalization of the line to Katowice (Katowice–Legnica railway  [ pl ]) began. [11]

On 13 December 2015, Express InterCity Premium trains, operated by ED250 Pendolino, began stopping in Gliwice. [15]

Railways

E 30 railway [pl] Linia Kolejowa E 30.JPG
E 30 railway  [ pl ]
Gliwice railway station Gliwice train station - main entrance 2.jpg
Gliwice railway station
Gliwice Canal Barka na Kanale Gliwickim.jpg
Gliwice Canal
Siding to Sosnica Coal Mine [pl] Gliwice, Kopalnia Wegla Kamiennego Sosnica - Makoszowy, Ruch Sosnica - fotopolska.eu (296225).jpg
Siding to Sośnica Coal Mine  [ pl ]

Standard-gauge

Gliwice is served by Katowice–Legnica railway  [ pl ], part of the European E 30 railway  [ pl ] (Dresden–Moscow Kiyevsky). [2] [16] [17]

From Gliwice railway station, railways Katowice Ligota–Gliwice  [ pl ] (to Katowice Ligota  [ pl ]), Zabrze Biskupice–Gliwice  [ pl ] (to Zabrze Biskupice  [ pl ]), and Gliwice–Gliwice Sośnica KWK Sośnica Makoszowy  [ pl ] (to Sośnica Coal Mine  [ pl ]) originate. From Gliwice Łabędy  [ pl ], Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway  [ pl ] extends to Opole Główne via Strzelce Opolskie. [2]

Gliwice railway station is connected to Łabędy by an additional railway, Gliwice–Gliwice Łabędy  [ pl ], and to Gliwice Sośnica  [ pl ] by Gliwice–Gliwice Sośnica KWK Sośnica Makoszowy railway  [ pl ]. [2]

Passenger services operate on Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway (Opole), Katowice–Legnica railway (Katowice, Kędzierzyn-Koźle  [ pl ], Opole), and Zabrze Biskupice–Gliwice (Bytom). Other railways are used solely for freight. [2]

Narrow-gauge

All narrow-gauge railways in Gliwice are inactive and largely dismantled. [5] On 1 March 1993, the narrow-gauge railway was listed as a heritage site. [18] The 2009 Gliwice Spatial Development Study proposes restoring the narrow-gauge railway for tourism. [19]

Operating points

Active

The main station in Gliwice is Gliwice railway station, located in Śródmieście  [ pl ] district. It is the second-largest station in the Katowice urban area and is classified as Category A by the Polish State Railways. In the Łabędy  [ pl ] district, Gliwice Łabędy railway station  [ pl ] lies at the junction of lines to Opole (Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway  [ pl ]) and Kędzierzyn-Koźle  [ pl ] (Katowice–Legnica railway  [ pl ]). Beyond Łabędy, on Gliwice Łabędy–Pyskowice railway, is the Gliwice Kuźnica railway station  [ pl ]. [2]

Freight traffic, in addition to Gliwice and Gliwice Łabędy railway stations, is handled by Gliwice Port railway station  [ pl ], located at the start of the Gliwice Canal, and Gliwice Sośnica railway station  [ pl ], which served passengers until 1 June 1997. [2]

NameType [20] Number of
platform edges [21] 		InfrastructureFormer names [22]
Gliwice Railway station8Ticket offices [23]
Ticket machines [24]
Waiting room [25]
Underground passages [25]
Water towers [25]
Inactive motive power depot [2] 		Gleiwitz (1845–1884)
Gleiwitz Staatsbahnhof (1885–1920)
Gleiwitz (1921–1930)
Gleiwitz Hauptbahnhof (1931–1945)
Gliwice Kuźnica  [ pl ]Railway station2Shelters [26] Rotfeld (1942–1945)
Łabędy (Przystanek) (1945–1946)
Łabędy Przystanek (1947–1967)
Gliwice Łabędy  [ pl ]Railway station4Shelters [27] Laband (1845–1945)
Łabędy (1945–1967)
Gliwice Port  [ pl ] Goods station Gleiwitz Hafen (1936–1945)
Gliwice Sośnica  [ pl ]Railway station2Inactive motive power depot [2] Sosnitza (1855–1935)
Gleiwitz Ost (Sosnitza) (1936–1939)
Gleiwitz Ost (1940–1945)
KWK SośnicaSiding
Szobiszowice Junction

Inactive

On Katowice Ligota–Gliwice  [ pl ], between Gliwice and Gliwice Sośnica  [ pl ], there are two inactive service stops: Gliwice Lokomotywownia and Gliwice ZNTK. [2] [20]

All narrow-gauge stops in Gliwice are inactive. [2]

Station sidings

Gliwice hosts sidings serving various companies: [28]

StationUser
Gliwice Wire and Wire Products Factory
Gliwice Wagon Factory
Kem
Marbet-Wil
Newag Gliwice
Gliwice Container Terminal – PKP Cargo
Gliwice Łabędy  [ pl ]KOL-TRANS-HUT
MULLER die Logistik Polska
PKP Energetyka
Gliwice Port  [ pl ] DB Schenker Rail Zabrze  [ pl ]
Erovia Polska
Military Unit No. 1933
M. Preymesser Logistyka
Silesian Logistics Centre  [ pl ]
Silesian Logistics Centre – Opel

Accidents

Education

In 1953, the Railway Technical School was established in Gliwice, building on a school founded in 1945 in Kędzierzyn  [ pl ]. In 1954, it opened a dormitory in nearby Zameczek Leśny. In 1956, a department for working professionals was added, and the dormitory was relocated to 15 Górnych Wałów Street. In 1965, a new school building was completed, and in 1985, the dormitory moved to 10 Krakusa Street. The department for working professionals closed in 1991, and in 2002, the school adopted its current name, Technical and IT School Complex. [32] In 2013, Koleje Śląskie sponsored a class training railway electro-energetic technicians. [33]

Railway sports clubs

From 1926 to 1945, the railway sports club Reichsbahn SG 1926 Gleiwitz operated in Gliwice, with its home stadium, RSG-Stadion, at present-day Sportowa Street. In August 1945, the KKS Kolejarz Gliwice  [ pl ] club was founded, taking over the RSG stadium. [34] [35]

References

  1. 1 2 Halor, Jakub (2006). "160 Lat Kolei Górnośląskiej" [160 Years of the Upper Silesian Railway]. Świat Kolei (in Polish). 11. Łódź: Emipress: 36–41.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Stankiewicz, Ryszard; Stiasny, Marcin (2011). Atlas Linii Kolejowych Polski 2011[Atlas of Polish Railways Lines 2011] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Rybnik: Eurosprinter. ISBN   978-83-931006-4-4.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nadolski, Przemysław; Roszak, Tomasz; Soida, Krzysztof; Wieczorek, Edward (2010). Węzeł Kolejowy Gliwice[Gliwice Railway Junction] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Rybnik: Eurosprinter. ISBN   978-83-931006-1-3.
  4. ↑ "ZNLE S.A. – O Firmie" [ZNLE S.A. – About the Company]. znle.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 24 December 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Korcz, Paweł (2006). Atlas Wąskotorówek[Atlas of Narrow-Gauge Railways] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Poznań: Poznański Klub Modelarzy Kolejowych. ISBN   83-920757-3-0.
  6. ↑ Halor, Jakub (2007). "Historia "Latającego Pierona"" [History of the "Flying Silesian"]. Świat Kolei (in Polish). 11. Łódź: Emipress: 19–25.
  7. ↑ Soida, Krzysztof (2001). Koleje Wąskotorowe na Górnym Śląsku[Narrow-Gauge Railways in Upper Silesia] (in Polish). Vol. I. Śląsk. p. 55.
  8. ↑ Bojda, Krzysztof (31 January 2008). "Połączenie Kolejowe Gliwice-Bytom Reaktywowane" [Gliwice-Bytom Railway Connection Reactivated]. Wojewódzki Portal Komunikacyjny (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Śląskie: Od Dziś z Rozkładu Znika 67 Pociągów Przewozów Regionalnych" [Silesia: From Today, 67 Regional Transport Trains Removed from the Schedule]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Rozpoczyna Się Remont Torów do Pyskowic. Będą Utrudnienia" [Track Renovation to Pyskowice Begins. Delays Expected]. gliwice.gazeta.pl (in Polish). 24 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Od Poniedziałku Rozkład Kolei Śląskich na Czas Remontów [Zmieniony Rozkład]" [From Monday, Koleje Śląskie Schedule Adjusted for Renovations [Updated Schedule]]. dziennikzachodni.pl (in Polish). 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Pociągi Nowego Przewoźnika – Kolei Śląskich – Wyjechały na Tory" [New Operator's Trains – Koleje Śląskie – Hit the Tracks]. Gazeta Prawna (in Polish). 1 October 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Pociągi Wróciły na Linię Bytom – Gliwice" [Trains Returned to the Bytom–Gliwice Line]. kurier-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 4 February 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Koleje Śląskie Szukają Oszczędności" [Koleje Śląskie Seek Savings]. tvp.info (in Polish). 1 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.
  15. ↑ "Nowy Rozkład na Żywo: Awaria na CMK, Wichury Utrudniają Ruch" [New Schedule Live: CMK Breakdown, Storms Disrupt Traffic]. rynek-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  16. ↑ Engelhardt, Janusz (9 April 2010). "Odpowiedź Podsekretarza Stanu w Ministerstwie Infrastruktury – z Upoważnienia Ministra – na Zapytanie nr 6651" [Response of the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure – on Behalf of the Minister – to Inquiry No. 6651]. sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Umowa Europejska o Głównych Międzynarodowych Liniach Kolejowych (AGC)" [European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC)]. drogipubliczne.eu (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Miasto Gliwice Studium Uwarunkowań i Kierunków Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego Miasta Gliwice "Część A Uwarunkowania"" [City of Gliwice Study of Conditions and Directions for Spatial Development of the City of Gliwice "Part A Conditions"](PDF). bip.gliwice.eu (in Polish). 7 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2013.
  19. ↑ "Miasto Gliwice Studium Uwarunkowań i Kierunków Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego Miasta Gliwice "Część A Ustalenia"" [City of Gliwice Study of Conditions and Directions for Spatial Development of the City of Gliwice "Part A Provisions"](PDF). bip.gliwice.eu (in Polish). 7 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Wykaz Posterunków Ruchu i Punktów Ekspedycyjnych" [List of Movement Posts and Dispatch Points](PDF). plk-sa.pl (in Polish). 7 February 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Wykaz peronów" [List of Platforms](PDF). www.plk-sa.pl (in Polish). 30 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Stankiewicz, Ryszard; Stiasny, Marcin (2011). "Indeks stacji, przystanków osobowych, posterunków kolejowych z nazwami aktualnymi i wcześniejszymi" [Index of Stations, Passenger Stops, and Railway Posts with Current and Former Names]. Atlas Linii Kolejowych Polski 2011[Atlas of Polish Railways Lines 2011] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Rybnik: Eurosprinter. ISBN   978-83-931006-4-4.
  23. ↑ "Kasy Biletowe" [Ticket Offices]. intercity.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Biletomaty Kolei Śląskich" [Silesian Railways Ticket Machines]. kolejeslaskie.com (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2 August 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 "Gliwice". www.bazakolejowa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Gliwice Kuźnica". www.bazakolejowa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  27. ↑ "Gliwice Łabędy". www.bazakolejowa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Wykaz odległości do terminali towarowych, punktów zaopatrzenia w paliwo, torów postojowych i punktów utrzymania pojazdów kolejowych" [List of Distances to Freight Terminals, Fuel Supply Points, Sidings, and Rolling Stock Maintenance Points](PDF). plk-sa.pl (in Polish). 10 March 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  29. ↑ Nadolski, Przemysław; Roszak, Tomasz; Soida, Krzysztof; Wieczorek, Edward (2010). "Pierwszy Etap – Doprowadzenie Linii Kolejowej i Budowa Stacji w Gliwicach (1845–1867)" [First Stage – Construction of the Railway Line and Station in Gliwice (1845–1867)]. Węzeł Kolejowy Gliwice[Gliwice Railway Junction] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Rybnik: Eurosprinter. pp. 19–54. ISBN   978-83-931006-1-3.
  30. ↑ "Katastrofa Kolejowa" [Railway Disaster]. Nowiny Gliwickie (in Polish). 3 (1875): 3. 20 January 1994. ISSN   0209-3227.
  31. ↑ Nadolski, Przemysław; Roszak, Tomasz; Soida, Krzysztof; Wieczorek, Edward (2010). "Okres Schyłkowy (1990–2010)" [Decline Period (1990–2010)]. Węzeł Kolejowy Gliwice[Gliwice Railway Junction] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Rybnik: Eurosprinter. pp. 136–159. ISBN   978-83-931006-1-3.
  32. ↑ "Historia Szkoły" [School History]. zsti.gliwice.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 14 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "KŚ Patronem Klasy Technikum w Gliwicach" [Koleje Śląskie Sponsor a Technical School Class in Gliwice]. kurier-kolejowy.pl (in Polish). 10 May 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Zanim Powstał Piast" [Before Piast Was Founded]. piast.gliwice.pl (in Polish). 18 December 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  35. ↑ "Historia Gliwickiej Piłki Nożnej" [History of Gliwice Football]. muzeum.gliwice.pl (in Polish). 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
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