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Acquisition of railways by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship

The acquisition of railways by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship marshal's office involves the gradual, paid or unpaid transfer of railway lines previously managed by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe to the ownership of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. By the end of 2022, 23 lines spanning approximately 240 km were acquired, with passenger services restored on five sections. The Lower Silesian Voivodeship is the only region in Poland systematically acquiring railway infrastructure. The infrastructure is managed by the Lower Silesian Roads and Railways Service in Wrocław. The acquired lines are operated by Lower Silesian Railways.

Legal framework
The organization of regional transport is the responsibility of voivodeship marshals. Under Polish law, local government units may acquire railway lines that are not critical to the national railway network and serve only local purposes. Typically, these are lines with no or minimal train operations. Acquisition can be paid or unpaid. == Regional railway characteristics ==
Regional railway characteristics
The Lower Silesian Voivodeship has a high rate of railway usage for local and regional transport. In 2018, the average resident made 9.4 rail trips annually, the 4th-highest in Poland. The voivodeship's policy focuses on restoring lost connections and expanding local services. Major obstacles include ongoing renovations and insufficient track capacity. Compared to other Polish regions, Lower Silesia historically had the densest railway network, serving all cities until 1945, though the Eulengebirgsbahn declined in the 1930s. == History ==
History
to Karpacz is a key priority for the Lower Silesian Voivodeship near Orłowice railway station under preparation for reconstruction, August 2021 The 1990s saw widespread closures of unprofitable railway lines in Lower Silesia, which had a dense network. By 2000, around 40 local lines, such as MalczyceJawor, –Trzebnica, and –, were closed. These closures primarily affected small towns distant from major centers, exacerbating transport exclusion in Poland. Key reasons included deteriorating infrastructure and declining demand. The first regional initiative to introduce local transport on Polish State Railways' infrastructure was the establishment of Lubuska Kolej Regionalna in 1991. The first attempt at railway line acquisition occurred in 2001 in Hajnówka County, where the county head planned to take over a section of from Hajnówka to Białowieża. The line became popular and overcrowded, leading to plans in 2022 for electrification and the construction of a passing loop. In 2022, the Kolej Plus program was launched to support railway transport with government funds. The voivodeship submitted four projects, but the revitalization of the Kobierzyce–Piława Górna line, aimed at improving connectivity with Ząbkowice County, was rejected. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe has been reluctant to transfer assets, leading to procedural disputes. In Lubusz Voivodeship, on , only embankments were transferred without tracks, which were dismantled for planned bike paths. The transfer of the Dzierżoniów–Bielawa section was delayed but completed by 2022. Declaring intent to acquire a line prevents the Polish State Railways from dismantling it. == Acquired railway lines ==
Acquired railway lines
As of 28 March 2024, the voivodeship has acquired the following railway lines: Duninów–Przemków Odlewnia railway from Rokitki to Niegosławice was operational since 1890 but began deteriorating in the 1990s. Passenger services on the Chocianów–Niegosławice section ceased in 1991, followed by freight services on the Przemków Odlewnia–Niegosławice section in 1994. On 24 January 2019, the voivodeship approved the acquisition of the Duninów–Chocianów section, formalized on 16 December 2020. Renovation took 14 months, and passenger services resumed on 11 December 2022 with the Legnica–Chocianów route. In December 2023, the Chocianów–Przemków Odlewnia section was acquired, with track clearing starting soon after. Passenger services to Przemków are planned for late 2025, with further revitalization of the Przemków Odlewnia–Niegosławice section targeted for the 2026/2027 timetable to enable Legnica–Głogów connections via Przemków, Niegosławice, Gaworzyce, and Żukowice. A tender for the Chocianów–Przemków Odlewnia section was announced on 14 March 2025. Kobierzyce–Piława Górna railway connects Kobierzyce to Piława Górna on the Sudeten line, linking Wrocław with Ząbkowice County. Passenger services ceased in 1996, and all rail traffic stopped a few years later. In 2019, the voivodeship acquired the railway from the Polish State Railways. An attempt to include the railway in the Kolej Plus program for renovation by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe failed in April 2022. Szklarska Poręba Górna–State Border railway train with a series 810 diesel car in Szklarska Poręba in 2010 The Szklarska Poręba Górna–State Border section is a 13 km non-electrified segment of Izera railway, running through the Jizera Mountains. Until 1945, it was electrified, but the German traction network was dismantled by the Red Army and taken to the Soviet Union as war reparations under an 8 July 1945 agreement. Passenger services on the Szklarska Poręba Huta–State Border section were suspended in 1947, and on the Szklarska Poręba Górna–Szklarska Poręba Huta section in 1957. Renovation began ceremonially on 8 May 2009, extending from Szklarska Poręba to the Polish border and onward to Kořenov. The Wrocław-based firm Dolkom S.A. undertook the work, estimated at 14 million PLN. Originally planned for completion by 30 November 2009, delays due to a harsh winter pushed completion to mid-June 2010. The line was ceremonially reopened on 2 July 2010, with regular services (initially to Jakuszyce) starting the next day. In 2010, the timetable included six daily round trips between Kořenov and Szklarska Poręba Górna. Chojnów–Rokitki railway The 8 km section of Chojnów–Rokitki railway from Chojnów to Rokitki was active from 1906 to 2002. The Lower Silesian Voivodeship Marshal's Office repeatedly sought to acquire this section from PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe. In 2014, the line was slated for dismantling, but this was averted. On 24 January 2019, the voivodeship approved the acquisition of the Chojnów–Rokitki section, excluding short segments at the Chojnów and Rokitki stations, Revitalization works took place between 2021 and 2022, and passenger services resumed on 11 December 2022 with the Legnica–Chocianów route. Gryfów Śląski–Świeradów-Zdrój railway railbus at the Świeradów-Zdrój stop in February 2024 The railway from Gryfów Śląski to Świeradów-Zdrój was originally divided into two railways: for the – section and Mirsk–Świeradów Nadleśnictwo railway for Mirsk–Świeradów-Zdrój Nadleśnictwo. Until 1945, it was known as the Izera Mountains Railway due to its route near the Zajęcznik peak. Passenger services from Gryfów Śląski to Mirsk began in 1884, extended to Świeradów-Zdrój in 1909. Passenger services ceased on 11 February 1996, and freight services ended in 1998. In 1999, the Gryfów Śląski–Mirsk section was redesignated as . Revitalization took approximately 18 months, costing 60 million PLN, with contributions of 5 million PLN from Świeradów-Zdrój and 1 million PLN each from Mirsk and Gryfów Śląski. The railway was ceremonially reopened on 7 December 2023, with passenger services starting on 10 December. Kłodzko Nowe–Stronie Śląskie railway The railway from Kłodzko to Stronie Śląskie, opened in 1897, operated passenger services until 2004 and freight services until 2007 on the Ołdrzychowice OMYA–Stronie Śląskie section. Acquisition efforts by Lower Silesian Roads and Railways Service faced ownership issues, resolved on 14 September 2023, when the railway was taken under 30-year management with an option for permanent acquisition. In 2024, the voivodeship announced plans to resume rail services to Stronie Śląskie in 2026. A tender for revitalization was issued on 29 January 2025. Wrocław Zakrzów–Trzebnica railway The 19 km – section of , within the Wrocław metropolitan area, connects Wrocław to Trzebnica. Opened in 1886, it operated passenger services until 1991 and freight until 1999, except for the Wrocław Psie Pole–Wrocław Zakrzów section, which remained with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe. In 2007, the voivodeship acquired the railway from PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe and began revitalization. Passenger services resumed on 20 September 2009. In 2024, plans were made for a passing loop and electrification funding was secured. Kamienna Góra–Jelenia Góra and Mysłakowice–Karpacz railways The railway to Karpacz and Kowary operated from 1895 to 1986 for Kowary and until 2000 for Karpacz. Pre-war electrification was dismantled in 1945 by Soviet forces south of the Wałbrzych–Jelenia Góra railway. A 2020 feasibility study for , , and Mysłakowice–Karpacz railway included re-electrification, later abandoned. These railways were acquired on 8 June 2021. A tender for preparatory works on the Mysłakowice–Karpacz railway was issued on 15 December 2022, receiving 11 bids. Construction began in March 2023. Srebrna Góra–Bielawa–Dzierżoniów Śląski railway The from Dzierżoniów to Bielawa was acquired by the voivodeship in late 2017. Passenger services were intermittently suspended from 26 May 1962, ceasing permanently on 21 May 1977, with freight services ending in 2001. Within 100 days, a tender was issued for revitalization, with a contract signed on 22 March 2018. Works included track resurfacing, upgrading four level crossings, and modernizing the and railway stations. The 5 km section cost 15 million PLN. Despite a planned September 2019 reopening, costing 14 million PLN. A small protest occurred at the opening due to the closure of an unauthorized crossing. In April 2024, a tender was announced for revitalizing the –Bielawa Zachodnia section, including a new Bielawa Camping Sudety station. A tender for the remaining Srebrna Góra section was issued on 28 January 2025. == Supreme Audit Office's report ==
Supreme Audit Office's report
In January 2022, the Supreme Audit Office released a report, Activities of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Government to Restore Railway Connections. It criticized the restoration of passenger services on only three of the 23 acquired railways, covering 37.6 km, and highlighted high acquisition costs of 8.196 million PLN annually. The report estimated a 52-year timeline for full reactivation at the current pace, citing a lack of profitability analysis and inadequate consideration of residents' needs. == Challenges ==
Challenges
Acquisition faces obstacles. The has complex ownership, split between Polish State Railways and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, requiring lengthy legal processes. An interpellation by MP Monika Wielichowska was ineffective, but the issue was resolved with the railway's 30-year management transfer on 14 September 2023. Similar issues affect the Jelenia Góra–Lwówek Śląski railway, exacerbated by the poor condition of the Pilchowice Lake railway bridge. == See also ==
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