Zbąszynek 2025-04-09

Railway line No. 358 Zbąszynek – Gubin.

Railway line No. 358 Zbąszynek – Gubin, is a railway line located entirely in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The line is 94.734 km long. The line is single-track and electrified with 3 kV DC current, on the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk section (0.00 km – 45.30 km). The line runs latitudinally. The maximum speed is 120 km/h. The line starts at the Zbąszynek station, which was built in 1924 as a Germanic border station. Currently, the line ends at the former border crossing, on the Polish-Germanic border.

History

The line was built in the 19th century, during Prussian times, when Poland was under partition. On June 26, 1870, the Märkisch-Posener Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft company launched a railway line, which was a direct connection between Poznań and Cottbus. This was precisely the Podmokłe Wielkie – Gubin section. It was part of a larger concept of connecting such Germanic cities as; Leipzig and Dresden, with cities in Eastern Europe, such as Olsztyn, Elbląg and Königsberg (Kaliningrad). In other words, the eternal concept of Germanic-Russian friendship. By the end of the 19th century, a second track was laid along the entire Cottbus – Poznań line. The line was located in the territory of the province of Brandenburg and was operated by Deutsche Reichsbahn.

In 1914, the Germans started the Great World War, counting on a quick victory for their army, which in 1871, quickly defeated France and gained new territories and large contributions. However, the Germans were wrong. As a result of the Great World War, many European nations regained independence, including Poland. Remember that the Germans still treat Poland as a seasonal state. The Treaty of Versailles established the eastern border of the Germans, and at the same time the western border of Poland. Unexpectedly, for the Germans, the Zbąszyn railway station (Zbąszyń) found itself on Polish territory. The Germans decided to build a new border station and a new city of Zbąszynek. At the same time, a section of the tracks on the line: Obra – Kosieczyn – Chlastawa (direction Frankfurt an der Oder) and on the line Zbąszyn – Podmokłe Wielkie (direction Czerwieńsk) was liquidated. The Zbąszynek station was completed in 1924. On November 1, 1925, the Zbąszynek – Podmokłe Wielkie section was opened.

In 1939, the Germans, with their Muscovite brothers, started the Second World War. And once again, they lost a lot. The greats of this world, moved the western border of Poland westward, to the line of the Oder and Lusatian Neisse. Before this happened, the Zbąszynek – Gubin railway line gained importance. Military trains to the Eastern Front ran along the line, as well as numerous passenger trains. In the period 1943-1945, the route was traversed by long-distance trains; Leipzig – Königsberg and Halle – Olsztyn. In 1945, while the war was still going on, Soviet trophy units dismantled one track and rebuilt the other into a wide one.

Since May 1945, the state border has been drawn along the line of the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers. Most of the Zbąszynek – Gubin railway line ended up in Poland, and the city of Gubin was divided between the two countries. The Gubin railway station remained in Germany. Therefore, a new station was built on the Polish side. The cross-border section between the stations was given No. 494.

In 1949, due to the tense international situation, passenger traffic was closed on the Gubin – Guben section. On this section, passenger traffic was resumed on May 28, 1972. This route was used, among others, by the international train Moscow – Leipzig. Often, the ST44 locomotive was at the head of the train. This was in the summer, because the ST44s did not provide heating for the passenger cars. In the winter, the train was led by SU45 and SU46 locomotives. On May 31, 1981, passenger traffic was suspended again on the Gubin – Guben section.

On 10 December 1986, the electrification of the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk section was completed, with 3 kV DC current. There was a plan to electrify the entire line, but the plan was not carried out.

On 2 June 1996, passenger traffic was opened on the Gubin – Guben border route. On 7 October 2002, this traffic was suspended again. On 6 October 2002, the last passenger train passed on the line between Czerwieńsk and the Polish border, and since then only freight trains have run on this section. In 2006, talks were held on the resumption of passenger traffic. An international agreement was not reached.

The underfunded PKP company did not have sufficient financial resources to maintain and modernize the line. The railway infrastructure gradually deteriorated. The speed of trains decreased. There were sections with speeds of up to 40 km/h. It was only after the United Right came to power in Poland that plans to revitalize the line appeared, especially on the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk – Zielona Góra section. The aim was to counteract the social exclusion of small towns in the Lubuskie province, where the previous Germanic-leftist-Masonic governments had eliminated connections, railway lines, and even railway stations. In the period March 2020 – March 2023, the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk section was closed due to renovation.

In March 2020, renovation of the line section on the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk section, 41 km long, began, with an expected increase in train speed to 120 km/h. The renovation of the line had been discussed since 2017. The program included the replacement of the track, together with the track bed, the replacement of turnouts on the main tracks, the replacement of electric traction, together with foundation piles for steel poles. The installation of new rail traffic control systems was planned. The plans included the reconstruction of culverts, a bridge and viaducts. The installation of guarded, automatic rail-road crossings. The reconstruction of platforms and the installation of small architecture; shelters, benches, information boards, audio and video systems were planned at stations and stops.

The section of the line from 34.636 km to 36.579 km was excluded from the scope of the task, together with the bridge at 35.764 km, the viaduct at 36.430 km and the rail-road crossing at 34.783 km. Work on these structures had already been carried out earlier. In 2022, the value of the project was PLN 167,651,290.78, and EU funding was to amount to PLN 112,079,465.51.

In September 2019, the Multi-Branch Company Eco-Baza signed a contract with PLK (Polish Railway Lines) for the revitalization of railway line No. 358 Zbąszynek – Gubin. During the works, it turned out that the contractor encountered problems with ground instability and had to expand the scope of works. Unfortunately, the works carried out by Eco-Baza were interrupted. At the beginning of June 2021, the Skierniewice company FAC RAIL resumed renovation works on railway line No. 358, section Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk. Additional tasks appeared. For example, the historic platform shelter in Sulechów was restored. In Babimost, Sulechów, Czerwieńsk and Kosieczyn, electrically heated turnouts were introduced, which allow train traffic even in difficult winter conditions. An additional, serious problem with putting the section into use was the notorious theft of the traction network and copper wires. Unfortunately, none of the services managed to catch anyone red-handed. This is very interesting, because it would have been enough to check the scrap collection points. It was reported that 23 kilometers of traction were stolen! This cannot be easily sold. In order to complete the task, the Marshal’s Office of the Lubuskie Voivodeship increased the funding three times. PKP PLK imposed on the previous contractor, Eco-Baza, penalties of PLN 12,336,507.52, i.e. 10% of the contract, due to the termination of the contract due to the contractor’s fault. PKP PLK settled the invoices submitted by subcontractors for the work performed, which were not paid by Eco-Baza.

As of June 11, 2022, seasonal passenger connections on the Czerwieńsk – Gubin – Guben section were launched.

On March 12, 2023, regular freight and passenger traffic was opened on the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk – Gubin section, after modernization. In March 2024, the Czerwieńsk – Guben border section was reopened. On the Zbąszynek – Czerwieńsk section, the maximum speed is 120 km/h.

Currently (April 2025), 43 trains run on the line daily. These are trains to the following directions: Białystok, Gdynia Główna, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poznań, Warszawa Wschodnia, Zbąszynek, Zielona Góra Główna. There are PKP InterCity trains here; No. 17100 Lubuszanin Lublin Główny — Gorzów Wielkopolski, at the head of the EU160 train. No. 17102 Zielonogórzanin Warszawa Wschodnia — Zielona Góra Główna, at the head of the EU200 train. No. 57104 Bachus Gdynia Główna — Zielona Góra Główna, leading the EU160 train. No. 70108 Podlasiak Poznań Główny – Zielona Góra Główna, leading the EU160 train. No. 1702 Strzelecki Warszawa Wschodnia – Zielona Góra Główna, leading the EU160 train. No. 57108 Stoczniowiec Gdynia Główna — Zielona Góra Główna, leading the EU160 train. The rest are local PolRegio trains. There are 5 pairs of trains per 24 hours on the Zielona Góra Główna – Gubin – Guben route. The route is served by Pesa SA139 SZT trains.

Pomorsko – Przylep railway link (line No. 436 Czerwieńsk Wschód – Czerwieńsk Południe).

The idea of ​​building a link was born in the early 1950s. When the railway bridge over the Odra in Nietkowice had not yet been rebuilt. However, after the bridge was rebuilt, the project was put aside. The plans were dusted off in 2009. The tender in the design and build system was announced on 18 December 2009. The competition was won by the Infrakol consortium. The investment value amounted to PLN 70 million. The construction time of the link and modernisation works on the existing tracks was set at 30 months. The link is single-track, 2.650 km long. A branch station Czerwieńsk Południowy and a second Czerwieńsk Wschód were built on the line. The 60E1 non-contact rails were used on Ps93/94 pre-stressed concrete sleepers with SB4/7 type fastening. The soil and water conditions were very unfavourable, which required reinforcement of the base of the embankments. Two viaducts were built over the rivers, which also serve as ecological crossings for wild animals. A rail-road crossing was built along provincial road No. 279. The crossing is category B, with half-barriers closed automatically by traction units. The connecting line is an electrified line. The transformer station is at the Czerwieńsk Południe branch post. The branch posts are automatic and remotely controlled from the control room at the Czerwieńsk station. The trees were cut down in February 2011, and after obtaining the appropriate permits, construction work began in May 2012. Construction work was completed on 5 June 2013, with a ceremonial opening of the connecting line with the participation of railway and local authorities. Rail traffic began with a change to the timetable, which was introduced on 9 June 2013.

Description of LK No. 358 Zbąszynek – Gubin.

Zbąszynek station (0 km, elevation 76 m), there is LCS here. LK No. 3, 367, 819. Two railway lines leave the station; No. 3 to Frankfurt (Oder) and No. 358. The latter has two tracks. The northern track passes over the viaduct to LK No. 3. Then it connects with the southern track and there is still one track. The line crosses DW No. 302 on the viaduct. Kręcko was a passenger stop (3.57 km, elevation 73 m). Further on, the line crosses DW No. 304. The line crosses the Leniwa Obra (Gniła Obra) river.

Babimost station (9.22 km, elevation 59 m). The station is located north-west of the city center. Further on, the line crosses DW No. 303, Sulechowska Street. Kolesie former passenger stop (15.11 km, elevation 81 m).

Łęgowo Sulechowskie passenger stop (20.37 km, elevation 91 m).

Sulechów station (26.37 km, elevation 85 m). LK No. 357, 379, 384. There is a disused water tower and a disused locomotive shed at the station. The line crosses DW No. 278, Przemysłowa Street, at the bottom. A little further on the line passes under Północna Street. There are embankments here from dismantled railway lines. Further on, the line crosses the S3 motorway at the bottom. Further on the forest road, there is a brick and steel railway viaduct, with a cobblestone surface and wooden balustrades.

Pomorsko former station (34.79 km, elevation 57 m). The line crosses the Odra River. The bridge has several spans, made of steel and supported by brick supports. The supports are adapted to two tracks. The bridge is 425 m long and has 16 supports. There are three long truss spans. The remaining spans are made of plate girders, short. Further on, the line crosses the Zimny ​​Potok River. The line crosses DW No. 281.

Czerwieńsk East is a branch post (40.99 km, elevation 54 m). LK Connecting No. 436. Further on, the line passes under LK No. 273 Wrocław – Szczecin. Further on, the line crosses DW No. 280, Kwiatowa Street.

Czerwieńsk station (43.83 km, elevation 52 m). LK No. 273. The end of the electrified line. The line runs on the southern side of Czerwieńsk station. Further on, the line runs straight west, and LK No. 273 turns north. The line passes DW No. 279. At the top it passes over Żwirowa Street.

Nietków passenger stop (48.68 km, elevation 58 m). In front of the platform there is a guarded crossing DW No. 279.

Laski Odrzańskie passenger stop (51.47 km, elevation 47 m). In front of the platform there is a road crossing. Jatnik is a former passenger stop (53.34 km, elevation 47 m).

Szczawno Ciemnice passenger stop and passing loop (56.53 km, elevation 47 m).

Krosno Odrzańskie station (66.38 km, elevation 44 m) LCS. In front of the station there is a crossing along DK No. 29. There is a large, two-storey, 14-axle station building. There is a siding to the woodworking plants. Behind the station there is a crossing along Gubińska Street. Further on there is a railway bridge over the Bóbr River near the Old Town Hall. The bridge is 274 m long and has 9 supports. The bridge is built of different materials because it was destroyed many times.

Stary Raduszec former checkpoint (69.22 km, elevation 44 m). There was LK No. 365, which ran south.

Wężyska passenger stop and passing loop (76.60 km, elevation 46 m). There is a railway crossing behind the station. There were two signal boxes at the station “WŻ” and “WŻ1”. Currently, there are remotely controlled switches. Laski Gubińskie former passenger stop (83.84 km, elevation 53 m)

Wałowice station (88.04 km, elevation 53 m). There are three through tracks at the station. There are shape semaphores at the station. The stop (platform) was built behind the crossing DW No. 138.

Gubin station (93.12 km, elevation 49 m). The station has 4 through tracks and shape semaphores. In the western head of the station there is a guarded crossing along Generała Sikorskiego Street.

State border (94.25 km, elevation 49 m). On the other side is LK No. 6206. The bridge over the Nysa Łużycka is 170 m long and has 7 underpasses.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman