Trzebinia 2024-11-25

Railway line No. 103 Trzebinia – Skawce.

The Trzebinia–Skawce railway line was launched on August 15, 1899. It was a local line, on which freight and passenger trains do not currently run. Except for the short section Okleśna–Spytkowice, opened for freight traffic (Alwernia Chemical Plant). The line was single-track, electrified, running meridionally. Initially, the line was called “Lokalbahn Skawce–Siersza Wodna”, and after Poland regained independence, it was called “Local Railway Skawce–Siersza Wodna”. The line was immediately built as a standard gauge 1435 mm.

Electrification of LK No. 103: On May 30, 1982, Trzebinia–Bolęcin. On October 25, 1991, Bolęcin–Spytkowice. On 22 December 1989, Spytkowice – Wadowice. The Wadowice – Skawce section was not electrified because the Świnna Poręba dam was being built and part of the route was flooded and eliminated.

The No. 103 Trzebinia – Skawce railway line started at the Trzebinia station. Then there were stations and stops; Piła Kościelecka (3,110 km), Bolęcin (4,750 km), Oblaszki (8,570 km), Regulice Górne (9,560 km), Regulice (12,070 km), Alwernia (14,260 km), Okleśna (18,020 km), Miejsce (19,400 km), Spytkowice (23,520 km), Trzebieńczyce (26,230 km), Grodzisko (28,410 km), Woźniki (31,390 km), Radocza (33,710 km), Wadowice (37,400 km), Czartak (42,730 km), Mucharz (46,450 km), Zagórze (49,980 km), Skawce (54,360 km).

After World War II, LK Nr. 103 was mainly used for local passenger trains on the route Sucha – Wadowice – Szczakowa / Siersza Wodna. The trains were mainly used by employees of mines, power plants and other industrial plants.

The traffic was suspended in stages: On 10 August 1988, Wadowice – Mucharz. On 15 April 1992, Mucharz – Skawce. On 7 October 2002, freight and passenger traffic Trzebinia – Wadowice. On 1 March 2009, Spytkowice – Wadowice.

The route of LK No. 103 Trzebinia – Skawce.

The No. 103 Trzebinia – Skawce railway line started at the Trzebinia station, at its eastern head and with the track branching off to the south. The line crosses Juliusza Słowackiego Street, a railway-road intersection equipped with barriers. There are concrete traction poles by the tracks, but the wires have been removed. Then the tracks enter the forest and run south parallel to Juliusza Słowackiego Street. The line crosses Słowackiego Street again and runs under the A4 motorway and enters the area of ​​the town of Piła Kościelecka (3.110 km). The track passes Brzozowa Street. There was a passenger stop here. After the stop, one rusty bus shelter remains. Then the track crossed Trzebińska Street, where there are still railway tracks in concrete pavement. Then the track crosses Jaśminowa Street. There is a wooden filling in the crossing. The tracks here run on wooden sleepers. Then the track crosses Fabryczna Street in Bolęcin (4.750 km). Three tin shelters remain at Bolęcin station. The station is in private hands and has been renovated. The rest of the station area is fenced. Then the track crosses Wczasowa Street. The track bed is heavily overgrown. Further on, the tracks were dismantled. Traction poles remain. The trace of the railway line crosses Sportowa Street, Podleśna Street, and the parallel street is called Kolejowa. Then there was a passenger stop Nieporaz Puszcza Dulowska – Oblaszki (8.570 km). For some time there were railway draisines for tourists with foot drive – Regulice draisine railway. Then the trail led through the forest. In Regulice, the track starts again with a stopper, at Europejski Street. The track is used by freight trains. The track crosses Europejski / Tenczyńska Street. The crossing has prefabricated slabs, and the access roads are paved with concrete paving stones. The track crosses Sportowców Street and, with an arc to the right, heads even further south. Then the track crosses Podwale Street and runs through the center of the town. The track crosses Jana Pawła II Street on a viaduct above. Then the track crosses Kijowska Street, Myśliwska Street. Then the track passes Chrzanowska Street. Then there are stops: Regulice Górne (9.560 km) and Regulice (12.070 km). At the Regulice station, the station and three tin shelters have been preserved. This is also where the local handcar station is. Then the track enters the forests and crosses; Alwerniańska Street, Franciszkańska Street. In the town of Alwernia, there is a former station – Alwernia (14.260 km). Currently, this is the end of the handcar station. Further on, the trail crosses Józefa Patelski DW Nr 780. Then a railway crossing in Karola Olszewskiego Street. There are still concrete traction poles along the tracks, without wires. At the height of the chemical plant in Alwernia (currently Alventa plant), the railway siding of these plants begins. There are five main tracks here, and in addition there are tracks on the factory premises. From the factory, towards the south, the line is double-track. The sleepers are wooden and there are still concrete poles from the electric traction. The trail crosses Nowowiejska Street. Then the trail changes from double-track to single-track. Then there was the Okleśna passenger stop (18.020 km). The historical site (19.000 km) is the ruins of an Austrian military guardhouse right next to the railway bridge over the Vistula. The bridge over the Vistula is 200 m long and consists of four spans, each span is about 50 m long. The spans are made of steel, in the form of a riveted truss and are supported by two abutments and three stone pillars. The bridge is in good condition and has tracks mounted on wooden pillars. After crossing the Vistula, the trail crosses Floriana Street and there is a passenger stop Miejsce Historyczne (19,400 m). Two tin shelters remain after the stop. Further on, the track crosses a local road and runs along Ogrodowa Street. There are still concrete posts on the tracks after the catenary. The trail curves westwards, reaches LK No. 94 and there is the Spytkowice railway station (23.520 km). 

The Local Handcar Railway in Regulice in Małopolska is a railway and tourist attraction. Its basis is a section of railway line No. 103, which was launched in 1899. The line is located in the Alwernia commune. It is a beautiful trail, with varied terrain and full of natural treasures. The company has 15 draisines. Each bicycle-type draisine is for 4 people. Two of these people drive the draisine by pedaling. One draisine has a manual drive. The draisines are for everyone, regardless of age. The draisines run according to the timetable. Online or telephone reservations are required. The draisine railway has two routes, 13.1 km and 8.5 km long. Both routes start at the Regulice station and run north or south, and after reaching the end, you return.

From Spytkowice station (23.520 km) we set off westwards, to head towards Wadowice at the western station head. The trail crosses Krakowska Street (DK No. 44) in an arc towards the south. Then it crosses Wiejska Street in an arc. Then it crosses Relaksowa and Zgody streets. Now we have the Trzebieńczyce passenger stop (26.230 km). Three bus shelters, streetlights, traction poles and the railway’s own network remain after the stop. The track is overgrown. The trail leads through fields southwards, by Jazowa Street, and the Skawa River is nearby. Here is the town of Grodzisko and the former Grodzisko station (28.410 km). Then there are railway crossings; Olszyna Street and Czarcza Street. Here a significant part of the traction network remains. In Woźniki, the track runs along Kolejowa Street. Woźniki Station (31.390 km). The line reaches the Woźniki railway bridge on the Skawa River. The bridge has a total length of 105 m and consists of two welded truss spans, supported by stone pillars. In the town of Radocza there is another bridge, this time smaller, about 50 m long, consisting of two spans. The bridge is located above a depression in the terrain, an oxbow lake. Passenger stop Radocza (33.710 km). Road crossing along the streets: Krakowska, Dworska, Podstawie, Wojska Polskiego and with a slight curve the route enters the Wadowice station (37.400 km).

From the Wadowice station we continue south. Two routes left the Wadowice station: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (line in operation) and Skawce (line No. 103 dismantled). On line No. 103, there was first a Gorzeń station, where there is currently a roundabout for national roads No. 28 and No. 52. Then the trail led between the Skawa River and national road No. 28. There is currently a bicycle path here. The Czartak stop (42.730 km) was where the Ponikiewka River flows into the Skawa. Then there was a Mucharz stop (46.450 km), where Lake Muchowskie is now. The next stop is Zagórze near Skawce (49.980 km) and here is also Lake Muchowskie. The last station, Skawce (54.360 km), is also at the bottom of the lake, and the current Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – Sucha Beskidzka railway line has been significantly moved. The station that would connect both lines would be Zembrzyce station.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman