Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa
Encyclopedia
Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line (Polish Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa often known by its acronym LHS), is the longest broad gauge
railway line in Poland
. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the standard gauge
for its railway tracks. The line runs as a single track line for almost 400 km, from the Polish-Ukrainian
border crossing just east of Hrubieszów
to Sławków Południowy (near Katowice
). It is used only for freight traffic, mainly iron ore and coal. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries which before 1991 constituted the Soviet Union
.
The line is operated by PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa Spólka z o.o.
company.
The previous name of the line was Linia Hutniczo Siarkowa (en.
Metallurgy - sulphur line), but after sulphur ceased to be transported on the line its name had been changed, keeping the initials the same.
, then in its most prosperous period, required great quantities of iron ore. The main source of the ore were mines near Kryvyi Rih
(then in the USSR, now in Ukraine), from where it was transported by rail via Medyka
, Przemyśl
, Tarnów
to Jaworzno Szczakowa. This line had inadequate capacity to carry the traffic.
Searching for a solution PKP
considered two plans. The first one was to modernise the existing tracks in order to allow more freight to be carried. The second plan assumed building an entirely new broad gauge line to ease transit across the border - this option was accepted. Design of the new line was done by CBSiPBK (Central Bureau for Railway Construction Designs and Studies) in Warsaw
. Eng. Józef Skorupski became the general designer. Beside this 21 other design bureaus, 8 geological companies and 3 technical universities took part in the project.
The line was opened in 1979 and was used to import iron ore from the USSR, as well as to export coal and sulphur from Poland.
After the fall of communism and the economic changes of 1989 traffic on the line has much diminished. At present various schemes are being tried to increase its profitability.
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway line in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
for its railway tracks. The line runs as a single track line for almost 400 km, from the Polish-Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
border crossing just east of Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów is a town in southeastern Poland, with a population of 18,661 . It is the capital of Hrubieszów County. Since 1999 Hrubieszów has been part of Lublin Voivodeship . Earlier, 1975–98, it had been part of Zamość Province...
to Sławków Południowy (near Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
). It is used only for freight traffic, mainly iron ore and coal. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries which before 1991 constituted the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The line is operated by PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa Spólka z o.o.
PKP LHS
PKP LHS is a company of the PKP Group responsible for infrastructure operation and freight transport on the Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line. The line runs for about 400 km from the Polish-Ukrainian border in Izow-Hrubieszów to Sławków Południowy ....
company.
The previous name of the line was Linia Hutniczo Siarkowa (en.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Metallurgy - sulphur line), but after sulphur ceased to be transported on the line its name had been changed, keeping the initials the same.
History
In the 1970s the giant newly built Huta Katowice steel millSteel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
, then in its most prosperous period, required great quantities of iron ore. The main source of the ore were mines near Kryvyi Rih
Kryvyi Rih
Kryvyi Rih or Krivoy Rog is a city in central Ukraine. It is situated in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, to the southwest of the oblast's administrative center, Dnipropetrovsk, at the confluence of the Inhulets and Saksahan rivers...
(then in the USSR, now in Ukraine), from where it was transported by rail via Medyka
Medyka
Medyka is a village in Przemyśl County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Medyka...
, Przemyśl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
, Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
to Jaworzno Szczakowa. This line had inadequate capacity to carry the traffic.
Searching for a solution PKP
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe
is the dominant railway operator in Poland.The company was founded when the former state-owned operator was divided into several units based on the requirements laid down by the European Union...
considered two plans. The first one was to modernise the existing tracks in order to allow more freight to be carried. The second plan assumed building an entirely new broad gauge line to ease transit across the border - this option was accepted. Design of the new line was done by CBSiPBK (Central Bureau for Railway Construction Designs and Studies) in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Eng. Józef Skorupski became the general designer. Beside this 21 other design bureaus, 8 geological companies and 3 technical universities took part in the project.
The line was opened in 1979 and was used to import iron ore from the USSR, as well as to export coal and sulphur from Poland.
After the fall of communism and the economic changes of 1989 traffic on the line has much diminished. At present various schemes are being tried to increase its profitability.
External links
- PKP LHS company official website URL accessed at February 7, 2006
- LHS fan website URL accessed at February 7, 2006