The network of connections will be changed following an annual analysis and consideration of the following factors:
- requests from passengers and local-government units, submitted both
as part of the social consultations held every year and throughout the year - experience gathered from the implementation of the transport process to date (e.g. recorded passenger numbers)
- infrastructure capacity, i.e. the commissioning of previously closed sections of railway lines after revitalisation, planned works requiring line closures, reductions and increases in speed, etc.
- technical and operational conditions reported by carriers.
In connection with the completion date planned by PKP PLK S.A. for modernisation works on sections of railway lines no. 281 Grabowno Wielkie – Milicz – Krotoszyn and no. 289 Legnica – Lubin Górniczy, set for October/November this year, the launch of connections on these sections was planned for the 2018/19 timetable. Additionally, in order to increase the attractiveness of railway transport serving Lubin, Milicz and Krotoszyn, alongside the most extensive possible network of direct connections from Wrocław, these trains were planned to be operated with new or modernised rolling stock owned by Koleje Dolnośląskie S.A.
Unfortunately, delays that occurred during the investment works will not allow the connections to be launched on the date the 2018/19 timetable comes into effect (9 December this year). Following arrangements with the carrier, full readiness to launch services after completion of the modernisation works will be maintained.
Work is also underway to launch year-round connections on the Sędzisław – Kamienna Góra – Lubawka – (Kralovec) section, which will provide good connections for Kamienna Góra County (with changes at Sędzisław station to/from trains on the Wrocław – Jelenia Góra line).
In the new timetable, on the sections currently served, the number of connections is generally expected either to grow further or to remain at its current level. In a few cases, individual trains have been withdrawn because of low passenger demand, while new connections at a different time or on a different route have been planned at the same time. Minor adjustments to train operating dates have also been planned (extensions and reductions), resulting from recorded passenger numbers.
Cross-border trains
Significant changes have been planned for the cross-border transport offer. Connections to/from Dresden will operate with a change at Węgliniec station. This decision is related to commercial factors (passenger complaints about low travel comfort – insufficient rolling-stock capacity on the Wrocław – Bolesławiec section and air-conditioning failures), operational factors (the German side was unable to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of sufficient rolling stock), formal factors (the end of the three-year agreement between KD S.A. and DB Regio for leasing the rolling stock necessary to operate this route), and infrastructure factors (the electrification of line no. 278 Węgliniec – Zgorzelec is still unfinished).
These connections will be replaced by fast trains on the Wrocław Gł. – Lubań Śl. route, which will connect at Węgliniec station with trains to Dresden. It should be emphasised that trains to Lubań will be operated by KD S.A.’s most comfortable 45WE-series vehicles, equipped, among other things, with adjustable comfortable seats in addition to efficient air conditioning. Besides providing more seats, this change, despite introducing a transfer, will also shorten the total journey from Wrocław to Zgorzelec and onward towards Dresden by approximately 10 minutes.
The structure of the Jelenia Góra – Zgorzelec – Görlitz connection offer will be maintained (6.5 pairs of trains connected with services to/from Dresden), while the morning and evening trains will run on an extended route to/from Wałbrzych, providing better connections between the Wałbrzych agglomeration and Germany. Following arrangements with Lubusz Voivodeship, the Zielona Góra – Zgorzelec – Görlitz offer has been expanded (4 pairs of daily trains), benefiting not only residents of Lubusz Voivodeship but also passengers from Zgorzelec, Lubań and Bolesławiec counties wishing to travel to Zielona Góra.
The offer of weekend connections to Forst Lausitz has been redesigned by significantly bringing forward the departure time of the morning train from Wrocław and launching a second pair of direct trains on the Wrocław Gł. – Forst Lausitz route, connected with trains to Cottbus (and onward to Berlin).
For connections to the Czech Republic, two additional pairs of weekend trains on the Liberec – Szklarska Poręba Górna route have been planned, connecting at Harrachov with trains from Prague and at Szklarska Poręba with trains towards Wrocław. In response to requests from tourists from Poland, the operating period of the morning train has been extended (the service will run daily).
The service pattern through the Lubawka/Kralovec crossing will be similar to this year’s (4 pairs of seasonal weekend trains on the Sędzisław – Trutnov route, connected in Poland and the Czech Republic with trains towards Wrocław, Jelenia Góra, Hradec Kralove and Prague). In response to the observed high interest in connections to the Rock City (the Mieroszów/Mezimesti crossing), modifications have been introduced in cooperation with the Hradec Králové Region, including extending train operations to weekends in September, changing the departure time from Wrocław to a more convenient one (approximately 6:40), extending one pair of Wałbrzych Gł. – Mezimesti trains to Adrspach, and improving connections towards Nachod.
Through the Międzylesie/Lichkov crossing, 4 pairs of daily trains are planned, connecting at Międzylesie (2 pairs) and Lichkov (2 pairs) with connections to/from Wrocław and Usti n. Orlici.
Wrocław – Rawicz
No changes to the number or operating times of trains are planned on the line. Any temporary adjustments will result from ongoing infrastructure works on the Rawicz – Poznań section.
Wrocław – Trzebnica
No changes to the number or operating times of trains are planned on the line.
Wrocław – Oleśnica – Bierutów (Namysłów)/Twardogóra (Ostrów Wlkp.)/Milicz (Krotoszyn)
A new feature will be the launch of 7 pairs of trains to Krotoszyn via Milicz, increasing the total number of connections on the Wrocław Gł. – Oleśnica section from 20 to 23 pairs. Importantly, the number of connections will increase during the afternoon peak and in the evening, as requested by passengers. Due to the prolonged modernisation works carried out by PKP PLK S.A. on the Grabowno Wielkie – Milicz – Zduny section, the launch of trains over the full route has been postponed to 11 February 2019. Until then, 6 pairs of trains will run on a shortened route to Oleśnica station. The number of connections on the lines towards Namysłów and Ostrów Wlkp. will remain at its current level.
Wrocław Gł. – Wrocław Wojnów
Due to planned revitalisation works on the Jelcz Miłoszyce – Wrocław Wojnów – Wrocław Sołtysowice section, train services will be suspended in the 2018/19 timetable. The modernisation, financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship as part of the Integrated Territorial Investments of the Wrocław Agglomeration, will extend connections to Jelcz via Dobrzykowice and reduce journey times (through higher speeds), increase the number of connections (by improving capacity), and better serve the settlement network (with new stops). As a result of the tender procedure, it became necessary to increase the allocation; the Voivodeship Board made a positive decision in this regard, and final procedures related to signing the agreement with the investment contractor are currently underway. Completion of the works is planned for December 2019.
Wrocław – Jelcz Laskowice – (Opole Gł.)
The line is experiencing dynamic passenger growth. For this reason, and in response to residents’ requests, 2 additional pairs of trains have been planned during the morning and afternoon peaks (increasing the frequency to every 30 minutes). To enable direct travel to other stations in Wrocław, the routes of some trains have been combined with trains to/from Krotoszyn. A new feature will be the return of 2 pairs of direct trains on the Wrocław Gł. – Jelcz Laskowice – Opole Gł. route, enabling, among other things, convenient travel to the capital of Lower Silesia for residents of the eastern part of Jelcz municipality and passengers from Opole Voivodeship.
Wrocław – Oława – (Brzeg)
The offer in terms of the number and operating times of trains will generally correspond to the current service. Minor changes result from the limited capacity of the railway infrastructure, affected by renovation works in the Opole Voivodeship area. A new feature will be a morning pair of weekend trains on the Nysa – Wrocław Gł. route, enabling direct travel to Wrocław and Nysa, from where the Opawskie Mountains can be reached. Modernised high-capacity ED72-series units will be assigned to the trains with the highest passenger numbers.
Wrocław – Strzelin – Kłodzko – Międzylesie
A new pair of trains to Strzelin will be launched, supplementing the network during the morning peak (with trains running every 30 minutes). The arrangement of the remaining connections will be similar to the current one, but more routes will be combined with trains to/from Rawicz (7 pairs), enabling direct travel to other stations in Wrocław. In addition to the connection from Poznań to the Kłodzko Valley area, a direct pair of trains from Zielona Góra will also operate.
Wrocław – Wałbrzych – Jelenia Góra – Szklarska Poręba Górna
The basic structure of the connections will be maintained, but one pair of daytime connections during the inter-peak period has been withdrawn due to low passenger interest. Extending one pair of Görlitz – Jelenia Góra trains to Wałbrzych means that the number of train pairs will not change, while residents will gain the opportunity to travel to work in Jelenia Góra in the morning and direct access to Germany. At weekends, a new pair of trains on the Wrocław – Szklarska Poręba Górna route will be launched, connected towards Liberec, and the departure of the Szklarska Poręba Górna – Poznań Gł. train has been scheduled 2 hours later, allowing passengers to spend more time in the mountains.
Wrocław – Jaworzyna Śl. – Świdnica – Dzierżoniów
The offer has been modified by extending the routes of all trains from Wrocław Gł. to Dzierżoniów (6 pairs in total), as well as changing the operating times of 1 pair to better match passengers’ expectations. Together with the planned connections at Jaworzyna Śl., residents of Świdnica and Dzierżoniów will have 14 pairs of connections with Wrocław.
Wrocław – Legnica – Bolesławiec – Lubań/Lubin/Żary
A new feature will be the launch of 10 pairs of trains on the Wrocław Gł. – Lubin route and 2 pairs on the Legnica – Lubin route, increasing the total number of connections on the Wrocław Gł. – Legnica section from 27 to 29 pairs. Importantly, the number of connections will increase during the morning and afternoon peaks and in the evening.
Due to delays to the modernisation works carried out by PKP PLK S.A. on the Legnica – Lubin section, the launch of the trains has been postponed to 9 June 2019.
Towards Bolesławiec, the number and operating times of trains will remain unchanged, except that the routes of the first and last trains to/from Węgliniec will be split at Legnica station. This minor inconvenience, requiring a change, is caused by the organisation of rolling-stock maintenance. Due to the location of Koleje Dolnośląskie S.A.’s technical facilities in Legnica, as well as the increasing transport workload, inspections must be intensified during the night.
As a result of the changes to the organisation of the Wrocław – Dresden connections already mentioned, the number of direct connections on the Wrocław Gł. – Lubań Śl. route will increase from 7 to 9 pairs. More connections will be operated by the highest-capacity 45WE-series vehicles, improving travel comfort. Towards Żary, the number of connections will remain at its current level; however, the morning connection from Wrocław will require a change at Legnica, while at weekends two pairs of trains on the Wrocław Gł. – Żary – Forst Lausitz route will be launched.
Wrocław – Wołów – Głogów – Zielona Góra
The basic structure of connections to Głogów will be maintained, with one pair of trains extended from Wołów to Ścinawa. In addition, in agreement with Lubusz Voivodeship, the route of one pair of connections from Głogów to Zielona Góra has been extended, and a new pair of trains on the Zielona Góra – Głogów route is planned. A greater number of connections than before will be operated with modernised rolling stock.
Legnica – Jaworzyna Śl. – Dzierżoniów – Kamieniec Ząbk. – (Nysa)
A new morning pair of trains on the Legnica – Dzierżoniów Śl. route is planned, enabling travel to work in Legnica, Świdnica and Dzierżoniów, as well as connections to/from Wrocław via the connections at Jaworzyna Śl. Together with the extended routes of trains to/from Wrocław, 14 pairs of trains will run on the Jaworzyna Śl. – Świdnica – Dzierżoniów section. In cooperation with Opole Voivodeship, 2 pairs of weekend trains on the Kłodzko Gł. – Gliwice route are planned.
Wałbrzych Gł. – Kłodzko Gł. – Kudowa-Zdrój
The connection structure will be maintained. Most trains to/from Kudowa-Zdrój will operate on direct routes to/from Wałbrzych, Wrocław and Legnica.
Jelenia Góra – Zgorzelec – Görlitz – Węgliniec – (Żary)
The basic structure of connections will be maintained. The adjustments are related to changes in the routes of trains from Dresden and towards Zielona Góra. Due to a lack of passenger interest, the early-morning and late-evening connection on the Zgorzelec – Lubań section has been withdrawn.
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