Izera railway (Polish: Kolej Izerska, German: Zackenbahn) is a line connecting Polish town Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg) with Szklarska Poręba (Schreiberhau). It is a part of former Prussian Zackenbahn,[1] that used to connect Prussia with the Austro-Hungarian Empire via the New World Pass.[2] The line is currently operated by PKP.
Contents |
The first section at the foothills of the Giant Mountains (Riesengebirge/Karkonosze/Krkonoše) was completed in 1891. The mountain section took several more years to finish. The railway station Jakobsthal (Jakuszyce) close to the New World Pass became the highest railway station in Prussia. The terminal station was Polaun/Grünthal (Kořenov). The complete track was opened in 1902, together with the Cog railway Tannwald-Grünthal. The line was electrified in 1923.
In April 1945 most of the locomotives were evacuated. Some were captured in the border station Polaun/Grünthal by the advancing Red Army. After the war, the electric equipment was dismounted and together with the remaining locomotives transported to the Soviet Union as reparation. Silesia was transferred to Poland, and cross-border traffic was abolished. Following an exchange of border territories between Czechoslovakia and Poland, the Bohemian part was extended to Harrachov, that became a new terminal station.
Polish State Railways (PKP) operated passenger trains as far as Szklarska Poręba Huta (Josephinenhütte) and freight trains as far as Jakuszyce. The track as far as Szklarska Poręba Górna was electrified again in 1987. Except for a one-day celebration on the 100th anniversary in 2002, cross border traffic was never restored. Due to decision of Common Monitoring Committee of Operational Programme of European Transborder Cooperation Czech Republic - Poland 2007-2013 the execution of the project "Revitalization of the railway line Szklarska Poreba - Harrachov" will be provided. Project in question has been recommended to be awarded subsidy from resources allocated in mentioned programme.
Some believe the section between Szklarska Poręba Górna and Harachov would be an ideal location for a steam locomotive scenic railway.