Silesian Interurbans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram (streetcar) systems in the World, in existence since 1894. The system spreads for more than 50 kilometres (east-west axis) and covers thirteen towns of Upper Silesia metropolitan area (Southern Poland) and their suburbs (Katowice - capital town of the region, Będzin, Bytom, Chorzów, Czeladź, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Gliwice, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Świętochłowice, and Zabrze) densely industrialised (coal, coke, steel and other industries; decreasing since 1990s) and inhabited by more than 2 million people.
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[edit] Basic information
- Total system length: 207 km
- Number of routes: 35
- Number of revenue vehicles: 371
- Number of vehicles on-duty daily (Mon-Fri): ca. 300
- Number of depots: 5 (Będzin, Chorzów-Batory, Bytom-Stroszek, Gliwice, Katowice-Zawodzie)
- Longest route length: 22.45 km (Route 21)
- Shortest route length: 1.34 km (Route 38)
[edit] History
The system was established in 1894 as a narrow gauge (unique 785 mm gauge) steam interurban railway. The first line was 36.5 km long and connected Gliwice with Piekary Śląskie through Zabrze, Chebzie, Chorzów and Bytom. After four years (in 1898) the system was electrified. In 1912 the first short standard gauge (1435 mm) line was built in Katowice. In 1913 a separate system (standard gauge) connecting Bytom with suburbs and villages west of the town was opened. After World War I and Silesian Uprisings the region (and the tram network) was divided between Poland and Germany - international services appeared (the last one functioned till 1937). In 1928 another standard gauge system was established in Sosnowiec, Będzin and Dąbrowa Górnicza (so called Dabrowa Coal Basin - a region adjoining Upper Silesian Coal Basin). Between 1928 and 1936 most of the original narrow gauge network was re-gauged to the standard gauge (last narrow gauge line Siemianowice Śląskie-Chorzów] remained till 1952, though), what allowed a connection with the new system in Sosnowiec (service between Chorzow and Sosnowiec through Katowice was established in 1931).
During World War II the German authorities decided to merge all systems, and they remained as one united network until present day (though the old boundaries are still easily traceable). The new routes numeration system introduced in 1940 to integrate the systems is still used. In 1951 the system was taken over by a state-company (WPK Katowice) and until 1970s it was widely extended and partly modernised reaching its maximum length in the end of 1970s (ca. 235 km). Since late 1960s the classic rolling stock was being replaced by modern cars based on the American PCC technology. In 1980s some of the non-modernised, rural lines were abandoned (longest one from Bytom to Wieszowa with branch to Stolarzowice).
The end of 1980s brought changes in Poland (the Round Table talks and the fall of communism), unfortunately that did not improve the tramway service in the region - on the contrary, the condition of the tram company (Tramwaje Śląskie S.A.) was deteriorating every year since the middle of 1990s. The last new line was built in 1980-1982 (between Sosnowiec and Zagórze). In the end of 1990s the line Bytom - Chorzów - Katowice was to be upgraded to light-rail (LRT) standards. Due to the lack of funds, the investment was carried out only partially (including purchase of 17 Citadis Type new low-floor cars produced by Alstom) and the time of journey on a highly overcrowded line did not change.
[edit] 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, however their current replacement with buses is very unsuccessful. Even when the tramway service speeds are not high and some relations tend to lose competition with buses, they reach central areas of towns and cities closed for 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 - rural and suburban single track routes with passing loops often leading to deserted places, interesting types of signal system (also old signals hand-operated by the drivers), some old rolling stock 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 cars with wooden seats and hand operated slide doors. Besides, lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, 26, 27 guarantee exceptionally scenic views and are definitely worth visiting.
[edit] Routes
List of tram routes operated by Tramwaje Śląskie S.A. in May 2006:
Peak frequencies and hours of service are for Mon-Fri only
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Wójtowa Wieś - Gliwice - Zabrze - Zaborze - Ruda Południowa - Chebzie |
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Mikulczyce - Zabrze - Makoszowy |
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Wójtowa Wieś - Gliwice - Zabrze - Zaborze |
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Zaborze - Zabrze - Biskupice - Bobrek - Bytom |
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Bytom - Pogoda - Łagiewniki - Chorzów - Dąb - Katowice - Brynów |
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Bytom - Łagiewniki - Piaśniki - Świętochłowice - Chorzów Batory - Załęże - Katowice - Zawodzie |
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Bytom - Szombierki - Godula - Chebzie - Wirek - Świętochłowice - Chorzów |
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Siemianowice Śląskie - Wełnowiec - Katowice - Załęże - Chorzów Batory - Świętochłowice - Wirek - Chebzie |
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Katowice - Dąb - Chorzów - Piaśniki - Lipiny - Chebzie |
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Chorzów - Chorzów Stary - Alfred - Siemianowice Śląskie |
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Chorzów - Chorzów Batory - Załęże - Katowice - Wełnowiec - Alfred - Siemianowice Śląskie |
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Alfred - Wełnowiec - Katowice - Zawodzie - Szopienice - Mysłowice |
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Katowice - Zawodzie - Szopienice - Sosnowiec - Zagórze |
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Katowice (Słoneczna) - Park Kościuszki - Brynów |
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Chorzów - Świętochłowice - Piaśniki - Łagiewniki - Lipiny - Chebzie |
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Chebzie - Ruda Południowa - Ruda - Bobrek - Bytom |
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Bytom - Stroszek |
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Katowice - Zawodzie |
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Milowice - Sosnowiec - Pogoń - Będzin - Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza - Gołonóg - Huta 'Katowice' |
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Czeladź - Będzin - Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza - Gołonog - Huta 'Katowice' see also: Route 32 |
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12:30-15:30 19:00-0:00 |
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Stadion Śląski - Dąb - Katowice - Zawodzie - Szopienice |
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Okrzei - Sosnowiec - Pogoń - Będzin - Kopalnia 'Paryż' |
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Milowice - Sosnowiec - Dańdówka - Niwka - Modrzejów - Mysłowice |
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Będzin (depot) - Pogoń - Sosnowiec - Dańdówka - Klimontów - Kazimierz Górniczy |
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Będzin (depot) - Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza - Gołonóg |
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Bytom - Bobrek - Biskupice |
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Bytom Plac Sikorskiego - Bytom Politechnika Śląska |
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Czeladź - Będzin - Kopalnia 'Paryż' - Dąbrowa Górnicza - Gołonóg one-way shortened version of Route 22 (cars going opposite way carry number 22) |
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15:00-20:30 |
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Stadion Śląski - Dąb - Katowice (Słoneczna) |
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Katowice - Zawodzie - Szopienice - Mysłowice - Dańdówka - Niwka - Sosnowiec - Środula - Zagórze |
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Biskupice - Zabrze - Zaborze |
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Chorzów - Chorzów Batory - Załęże - Katowice - Zawodzie |
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Chorzów - Chorzów Batory - Załęże - Katowice - Zawodzie - Szopienice |
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Bytom (Piekarska Street) |
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Bytom (Wrocławska) - Pogoda - Łagiewniki - Chorzów - Dąb - Katowice (Miarki Square) |
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[edit] Rolling stock
Revenue cars (brackets: number of units in working order (February 2006) / dates of production):
- N Type - classic four-wheel car (2 / 1949, 1951)
- 102Na Type - articulated car, body based on Polish PCC - 13N Type (20 / 1970-1973)
- 105N/Na Type - short car, with electrical system based on PCC technology (326 / 1973-1992)
- 111N Type - bi-directional version of 105Na Type (6 / 1993)
- 116Nd Type - low-floor articulated Citadis LRT car (17 / 2000-2001)
Non-revenue cars: ca. 50 cars, mostly of N and 4N Types, though many other interesting units are in the working order (including driver education cars, general works cars, overhead wires maintenance cars, snow ploughs, platform trailers and one tamping machine).
Museum cars: a set of classic N Type motor car with a 4ND Type passive trailer produced in 1950s, renovated in 2000-2001.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Silesian Interurbans (fan-page; English)
- Tramwaje Śląskie S.A. (official web-page; Polish)
- Trams & Interurbans in Silesia & Dabrowa Region (article; English, Polish)
