Szczecinek 23-08-2024

Railway line No. 404 Szczecinek – Kołobrzeg.

Railway line No. 404 Szczecinek – Białogard – Kołobrzeg is a route located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The line runs from the south-east to the north-west. LK No. 404 is 99.803 km long. The line is single-track and electrified with 3 kV DC. The maximum speed is 100 km/h. The line is of national importance. The line runs along the Parsęta River, but does not cross it.

Photo description: The train from Kołobrzeg arrives at the Szczecinek station.

The concession for the construction of the line was obtained by the Prussian company Hinterpommersche Eisenbahn, or Tylnopomorska Kolej Żelazna. The company initially applied for the construction of the Stargard – Białogard – Koszalin line (currently LK No. 202), but an application was added for the construction of a branch line Białogard – Kołobrzeg. The company was granted a concession for both lines. Both lines were put into service on June 3, 1859. The Białogard – Szczecinek section was built as part of the Ostbahn (Prussian Eastern Railway) and put into service almost 20 years later, on November 15, 1878. In 1879, the routes built by the Tylnopomorska Kolej Żelazna company were incorporated into the Ostbahn.

In 1939, the Germans started the Second World War. As a result, they lost a lot of territory to Poland. The entire Pomeranian Voivodeship and Western Pomerania became Polish territory, because that was the decision of the great ones of this world. The entire railway network of these areas was incorporated into the Polish State Railways. LK No. 404 became the most important railway line for holiday tourism. It was the shortest line from Poznań to the Baltic Sea, and thus from Wrocław, Upper Silesia and Kraków. Kołobrzeg became one of the most attractive seaside resorts. This fact meant that in the times of the Polish People’s Republic, it was decided to electrify the route. On June 30, 1988, electric trains were launched on the Białogard – Kołobrzeg section, and on December 29, 1989, the Szczecinek – Białogard section. More precisely, on December 15, 1987, the first electric train entered Białogard from the direction of Stargard (Stargard Szczeciński). This fact is commemorated by a plaque at Białogard station.

Currently (2024), the train journey time on the Szczecinek – Białogard section (64 km) is about 51 minutes (InterCity) or 58 minutes (PolRegio). The ticket price is PLN 24. On the other hand, the train journey time on the Białogard – Kołobrzeg section (36 km) is about 29 minutes (InterCity) or 36 minutes (PolRegio). The ticket price is PLN 15. The entire LK Nr 404 Szczecinek – Kołobrzeg (99 km) is covered the fastest by InterCity “Bosman”; 1 hour 22 minutes, and the ticket costs PLN 33. So the commercial speed is 72.5 km/h.

The course of the railway line No. 404 Szczecinek – Kołobrzeg.

Szczecinek 0.00 km, elevation 142 m, large 5-way junction station. The line curves to the left towards the north-west. The line runs under DK No. 20. It crosses the Nizina River. Szczecinek Chyże 3.76 km, elevation 136 m, passenger stop. Access to the platform is via a footbridge. The line runs parallel to the S11 Expressway. Szczecinek Bugno 4.82 km, elevation 139 m, passenger stop. The line runs under DW No. 172 (Koszalinska Street). Dalęcino 10.54 km, elevation 152 m, small station, passing loop. The line passes forests. Przeradz 15.98 km, elevation 136, passenger stop. Iwin 19.004 km, elevation 121 m, passenger stop. On the south side, old track, direction Barwice. The line crosses DW No. 171 at a railway-road intersection. Grzmiąca 27.05 km, elevation 85, station, formerly a junction (LK 404a and 410). On the north side, old track, direction Bobolice. Wielanowo 34.73 km, elevation 80 m, small station. Wielanowo 34.73 km, elevation 80 m, passenger stop, passing place. Tychowo 42.90 km, elevation 64 m, station. Podborsko 49.40 km, elevation 57 m, station. The line passes DW No. 163 at a rail-road junction. Moczyłki 57.66 km, elevation 31, former passing place.

Białogard. The line turns north in an arc. The line joins the line from Stargard (LK No. 202) and together they pass under DW No. 163 (Kołobrzeska Street). Białogard 63.52 km, elevation 25 m, large junction station. The line turns north-west in an arc. On the northern side, a siding to a fuel warehouse. The line crosses DW No. 166 at a rail-road crossing. The line passes the DW No. 112 and 163 viaduct at the bottom. The line crosses the Radew River. The bridge is made of stone and brick, 5 arches, adapted to two tracks. One of the arches is used by a local road. Karlino 71.62 km, elevation 26 m, station. On the western side, a siding to HOMANIT Polska, a manufacturer of MDF and HDF wood-based panels. The line crosses DW No. 163 at a rail-road intersection. Daszewo 75.28 km, elevation 29 m, passenger stop. Wrzosowo 80.05 km, elevation 27 m, small station. Jazy 83.64 km, elevation 23 m, passenger stop. The line passes the Pysznica River. Dygowo 88.02 km, elevation 33 m, station. Stramnica 93.28 km, elevation 25 m, passenger stop. The line passes Expressway S6, S11 at the top. The line crosses DW No. 165 (Koszalinska Street) at a rail-road intersection. Kołobrzeg Ogrody 97.49 km, elevation 6 m, passenger stop. The LK from Koszalin joins the line from the north. Kołobrzeg 99.41, elevation 3 m, railway station.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman