Silesian Interurbans - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram (streetcar) systems in the world has been in existence since 1894. The system is spread over more than 50 kilometres (east

East

East is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.East is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of west and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the right side of a map is east....

-west

West

West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....

axis) and covers thirteen towns in the Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...

metropolitan area

Metropolitan area

The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...

(Southern 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...

) and their suburbs (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...

, the capital town of the region, Będzin

Bedzin

Będzin is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Czarna Przemsza river , the city borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metro area with a population of about 2 million.It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its...

, Bytom

Bytom

Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...

, Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

, Czeladź

Czeladz

Czeladź is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with a population of 2 million. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river ....

, Dąbrowa Górnicza

Dabrowa Górnicza

Dąbrowa Górnicza is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, nearby Katowice. The north-east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of almost 3 millions...

, Gliwice

Gliwice

Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska

Ruda Slaska

Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....

, Siemianowice Śląskie

Siemianowice Slaskie

Siemianowice Śląskie aka Siemianowice ; is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions...

, Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...

, Świętochłowice, and Zabrze

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

), which is densely industrialised (coal

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...

, coke

Coke (fuel)

Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...

, steel

Steel

Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...

and other industries; though decreasing since 1990s) and inhabited by more than 2 million people.

Basic information

Total system length: 200 km lines (342 km of single track)
Number of routes: 33
Number of revenue vehicles
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...

: 371
Number of vehicles on-duty daily (Mon-Fri): ca. 300
Number of depots
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...

: 5 (Będzin, Chorzów-Batory (currently main repairing works, not a regular depot), Bytom-Stroszek, Gliwice, Katowice-Zawodzie)
Longest route length: 22.45 km (Route 21)
Shortest route length: 1.34 km (Route 38)

(March 2006) http://www.tram-silesia.pl/

History

The system was established in 1894 as a narrow gauge (unique 785 mm gauge) steam

Steam

Steam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air...

interurban railway. The first line was 36.5 km long and connected Gliwice with Piekary Śląskie through Zabrze, Chebzie, Chorzów and Bytom, another connected Katowice

Katowice

and Siemianowice. After four years (in 1898) electrification started. In 1912 the first short 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...

(1435 mm) line was built in Katowice. In 1913 a separate standard gauge system connecting Bytom with suburbs and villages west of the town was opened. After World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

and the Silesian Uprisings

Silesian Uprisings

The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...

the region (and the tram network) was divided between Poland

Poland

and Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, and international services appeared (the last one ran until 1937). In 1928 another standard gauge system was established in Sosnowiec, Będzin and Dąbrowa Górnicza (the so-called Dabrowa Coal Basin - a region adjoining the Upper Silesian Coal Basin). Between 1928 and 1936 most of the original narrow gauge network was regauged to standard gauge (although the last narrow gauge line, Siemianowice Śląskie

Siemianowice Slaskie

-Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

, remained till 1952), which allowed a connection with the new system in Sosnowiec (a service between Chorzow and Sosnowiec through Katowice was established in 1931).

During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

the German authorities decided to merge all the systems, and they have remained as one united network to the present day (though the old boundaries are still easily traceable). The new route numbering system introduced in 1940 to integrate the systems is still used. In 1951 the system was taken over by a state-owned company (WPK Katowice) and until the 1970s it was widely extended and partly modernised, reaching its maximum length at the end of 1970s (ca. 235 km). Since the late 1960s the classic rolling stock has been replaced by modern cars based on American PCC

PCC streetcar

The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...

technology. In 1980s some of the non-modernised, rural lines were abandoned (the longest one from Bytom to Wieszowa with a branch to Stolarzowice).

The end of the 1980s brought changes in Poland (the Round Table

Polish Round Table Agreement

The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest.-History:...

talks and the fall of communism

Communism

Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...

), but unfortunately that did not improve the tramway service in the region - on the contrary, the condition of the tram company (Tramwaje Śląskie S.A.) has been steadily deteriorating since the middle of the 1990s. The last new line was built in 1980–1982 (between Sosnowiec and Zagórze). At the end of the 1990s the Bytom - Chorzów - Katowice line was to be upgraded to light-rail (LRT) standards. Due to a lack of funds, the investment was carried out only partially (including the purchase of 17 Citadis

Citadis

The Citadis is a low-floor tram built by Alstom in La Rochelle, France, and Barcelona, Spain. 1,140 Citadis are currently in use in 28 cities, among others: Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Orléans, the Paris area, and Barcelona, Dublin, Gdańsk, Katowice, Adelaide, Melbourne, Jerusalem and...

Type new low-floor cars produced by Alstom

Alstom

Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...

) and the journey time on a highly overcrowded line did not change.

Present day

Today, the chronic lack of funds is visible on every step. Only most urgent repairs are being conducted and the condition of the rolling stock (mostly 15–35 years old) and the infrastructure is bad. In 2006 two lines (8 Bytom-Dąbrowka Wielka and 25 Będzin-Wojkowice) were closed, but their current replacement with buses is very unsuccessful. Line 12 Chorzow-Siemianowice was closed on December 31, 2008. On August 31, 2009 line 1 and 4 were partially closed on its large section covering Gliwice town. Also Lagiewniki - Bytom section of line 7 was closed in 2009, here because of bad track condition. Great part of rails and all catenary from all abandoned lines was dismantled in 2006-2010.
Even though the tramway speeds are not high and some relations tend to lose competition with buses, they reach central areas of towns and cities closed to road traffic and avoid most traffic jams. However, the great potential of the system that was and still should be a backbone of the regional transit seems to lie wasted.

On the other hand the Silesian Interurbans are the last such system in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

- rural and suburban single track routes with passing loop

Passing loop

A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...

s often leading to deserted places, interesting types of signal system

Railway signal

A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...

(also old signals hand-operated by the drivers), some old rolling stock

Rolling stock

Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...

and most picturesque rural and industrial sights. Thanks to these 'features' the Silesian Interurbans are very often visited by tram-fans, not only from Poland. The brightest star of the system is Route 38 in Bytom (along Piekarska Street) still serviced with classic, four-wheel N Type

N type carriage

The N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services...

cars with wooden seats and hand operated slide doors. Besides, lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 14, 17, 18, 26 and 27 guarantee exceptionally scenic views and are definitely worth visiting, while another scenic lines 12 and 25 were disantled.

Routes

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

- Zaborze - Ruda Południowa - Chebzie
| n/a
| 20
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 3
| Mikulczyce - Zabrze

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

- Makoszowy
| 8.7
| 20
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 4
| Gliwice Zajezdnia - Zabrze

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

- Zaborze
| n/a
| 20
| 5:00–20:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 5
| Zaborze - Zabrze

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

- Biskupice - Bobrek - Bytom

Bytom

| 16.3
| 8/12
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 6
| Bytom

Bytom

- Pogoda - Łagiewniki - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

- Dąb - Katowice

Katowice

- Brynów
| 18.4
| 14
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 7
| Łagiewniki - Piaśniki - Świętochłowice - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

Batory - Załęże - Katowice

Katowice

- Zawodzie - Szopienice
| n/a
| 14
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 9
| Bytom

Bytom

- Szombierki - Godula - Chebzie - Wirek - Świętochłowice - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

| 17.9
| 20
| 4:00–0:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 10
| Siemianowice Śląskie

Siemianowice Slaskie

- Wełnowiec - Katowice

Katowice

- Załęże - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

Batory - Świętochłowice - Wirek - Chebzie
| 21.1
| 60–140
| 0:00–5:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 11
| Katowice

Katowice

- Dąb - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

- Piaśniki - Lipiny - Chebzie
| 14.2
| 14
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 13
| Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

Batory - Załęże - Katowice

Katowice

- Wełnowiec - Alfred - Siemianowice Śląskie

Siemianowice Slaskie

| n/a
| 14
| 5:00–0:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 14
| Alfred - Wełnowiec - Katowice

Katowice

- Zawodzie - Szopienice - Mysłowice
| 15.2
| 14
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 15
| Katowice

Katowice

- Zawodzie - Szopienice - Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

- Zagórze
| 15.4
| 14
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 16
| Katowice

Katowice

(Słoneczna) - Park Kościuszki - Brynów
| 5.9
| 6/8
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 17
| Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

- Świętochłowice - Piaśniki - Łagiewniki - Lipiny - Chebzie
| 11.6
| 28
| 5:00–23:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 18
| Chebzie - Ruda Południowa - Ruda - Bobrek - Bytom

Bytom

| 12.5
| 20
| 4:00–23:30
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 19
| Stroszek - Bytom

Bytom

- Łagiewniki - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

- Dąb - Katowice

Katowice

(Miarki Square)
| n/a
| 6–8
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 20
| Katowice

Katowice

- Zawodzie - Chorzów

Chorzów

Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...

| n/a
| 14
| 5:30–18:30
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 21
| Milowice - Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

- Pogoń - Będzin

Bedzin

- Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza

Dabrowa Górnicza

- Gołonóg - Huta 'Katowice'
| 22.4
| 20
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 22
| Czeladź

Czeladz

- Będzin

Bedzin

- Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza

Dabrowa Górnicza

- Gołonog - Huta 'Katowice'
see also: Route 32
| 15.6
| 10
| 4:00–8:00
12:30–15:30
19:00–0:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 23
| Stadion Śląski - Dąb - Katowice

Katowice

- Zawodzie - Szopienice
| 12.8
| 14
| 5:00–19:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 24
| Okrzei - Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

- Pogoń - Będzin

Bedzin

- Osiedle Zamkowe
| 13.9
| 20
| 5:00–23:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 26
| Milowice - Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

- Dańdówka - Niwka - Modrzejów - Mysłowice
| 13.6
| 10
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 27
| Pogoń - Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec

- Dańdówka - Klimontów - Kazimierz Górniczy
| n/a
| 20
| 24h
|-
|----- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 28
| Będzin

Bedzin

(depot) - Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza

Dabrowa Górnicza

- Gołonóg
| 10.8
| n/a
| 4:00–17:30
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 30
| Bytom

Bytom

- Bobrek - Biskupice
| 7.4
| 20–40
| 7:00–17:30
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 35
| Biskupice - Zabrze

Zabrze

Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...

- Zaborze
| 8.9
| 20–60
| 5:00–16:00
|-
|----- bgcolor="#F0F0FF"
| 38
| Bytom

Bytom

(Piekarska Street)
| 1.3
| 15-30
| 6:00–18:00
|-
|}>

Rolling stock

Revenue cars(brackets: number of units in working order (April 2008) / dates of production):

N Type
N type carriage
The N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services...

- classic four-wheel car (2 / 1949, 1951)
102Na Type - articulated car, body based on Polish PCC
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...

- 13N Type (3 / 1970–1973)
105N/Na Type - short car, with electrical system based on PCC technology (314 / 1973–1992)
111N Type - bi-directional version of 105Na Type (6 / 1993)
116Nd Type - low-floor articulated Citadis
Citadis
The Citadis is a low-floor tram built by Alstom in La Rochelle, France, and Barcelona, Spain. 1,140 Citadis are currently in use in 28 cities, among others: Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Orléans, the Paris area, and Barcelona, Dublin, Gdańsk, Katowice, Adelaide, Melbourne, Jerusalem and...

LRT car (17 / 2000–2001)

Non-revenue cars: ca. 50 cars, mostly of N

N type carriage

and 4N Types, though many other interesting units are in the working order (including driver education cars, general works cars, overhead wires

Overhead lines

Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...

maintenance cars, snow ploughs

Snowplow

A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...

, platform trailers and one tamping machine

Ballast tamper

A ballast tamper or tamping machine is a machine used to pack the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks more durable. Prior to the introduction of mechanical tampers, this task was done by manual labour with the help of beaters...

).

Museum cars: a set of classic N Type

N type carriage

motor car with a 4ND Type passive trailer

Trailer (vehicle)

A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....

produced in 1950s, renovated in 2000–2001.

External links

http://zabrze.net.pl/nadkanalem/gmjwilczek/ (fan-page; English)
Tramwaje Śląskie S.A. (official web-page; Polish)
Trams & Interurbans in Silesia & Dabrowa Region (article; English, Polish)

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.