PKP rail line 65
The Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa or line 65 ( German metallurgical broad gauge line, abbreviated LHS ) is the longest broad gauge line (1520 mm) in Poland. It runs a single track of Volodymyr- Wolynskyj in Western Ukraine to Slawkow, Silesian Voivodeship.
The railway line was built to supply the steelworks Huta Katowice with iron ore from the former Soviet Union. In addition, sulfur and coal were transported to the Soviet Union.
Today it is operated by a subsidiary of PKP, PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa spółka z oo with registered office in Zamość.
History
In the 1970s, they were looking for solutions to supply Huta Katowice with raw materials. There were two solutions: First, the expansion of the existing network, the second new line from the USSR. Economic reasons were for the second solution. For the implementation of the planning CBSiPBK ( Central Office for Railway designs and studies) was responsible. As a senior engineer Józef Skorupski was appointed. At the planning were a total of 21 design offices, eight companies for geological drilling and three technical universities involved. Today, it can not say exactly how many people were involved in the construction of the pipeline; from OHP ( Ochotnicze Hufce Pracy voluntary working groups) were also used soldiers, students and people.
Construction of the track began on November 7, 1977. November 30, 1979, the line was put into operation.
After the political and economic upheavals in 1989, LHS went into a crisis. In 1993, the operation of the line was outsourced by the individual county governments in a subsidiary of PKP.
Route with the map
In Gródek ( powiat Hrubieszowski ) (1) LHS crosses the bow.
In the border station Hrubieszów ( 2) takes place, the customs clearance of the trains.
In Zamość Bortatycze station ( 3 ) there are maintenance facilities for rolling stock.
Then runs the stations Biłgoraj ( 4), Nisko ( 5), Wola Baranowska (6) and Staszów (7).
The Grzybów station ( 8) currently serves as a backup station. Previously he served for the loading of sulfur, which was transported to the USSR.
In Sędziszów North Station (9 ) there is a Umspuranlage on standard gauge.
The railway stations in Kępie (10) and Zarzecze (11) are alternative stations.
The Slawkow Południowy station ( Slawkow South) (12 ) is the endpoint of the LHS. There, the ore is unloaded and transported via a conveyor system to the hut after Dąbrowa Górnicza.
Trivia
A point of interest is found in the vicinity of the village Wygoda ( gmina Imielno ). There, the narrow-gauge railway Świętokrzyska Kolej Dojazdowa crosses the path of the LHS. A second time to cross the tracks in Chmielnik.
Until the 1990s traveling on the line haul a night express train from Łudyn after Olkusz. From there, there was a direct connection to Katowice.