On that day, a Koleje Dolnośląskie train carrying representatives of the provincial authorities, local-government officials, the carrier’s management board and journalists traveled along one of the most picturesque routes in the region.
“After 27 years, the residents of Świeradów-Zdrój are regaining access to a railway connection. This is another step by the local government in the fight against transport exclusion in the region. This investment is an ideal example of good cooperation between municipalities and the Marshal’s Office, as it was carried out with the support of local governments,” says Cezary Przybylski, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
The Koleje Dolnośląskie train departed from Gryfów Śląski and ended its journey at the station in Świeradów-Zdrój, renovated at a cost of PLN 6 million.
From Gryfów Śląski to Świeradów-Zdrój in 20 minutes
The 17-kilometre Gryfów Śląski–Mirsk–Świeradów-Zdrój line will be served by nine pairs of trains, which will stop at Proszówka, Mirsk, Mroczkowice and Krobica. The journey from Gryfów Śląski to Świeradów-Zdrój will take approximately 20 minutes.
“The new connection between Gryfów Śląski and Świeradów-Zdrój will be operated by nine pairs of trains a day. This is the only way we can convince residents that traveling by rail in Lower Silesia is not only convenient, but also meets their real needs and can compete with the car,” says Tymoteusz Myrda, a member of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Board responsible for railways.
This connection will make it possible to travel by rail toward Jelenia Góra, Zgorzelec and Goerlitz. Passengers will be able to change to Koleje Dolnośląskie trains toward Wrocław and Legnica in Jelenia Góra, Węgliniec or Lubań Śląski.
“The connection will mainly benefit Świeradów-Zdrój, but it is of great socioeconomic importance to us. We are also gaining importance as a key transfer hub in the region,” says Olgierd Poniźnik, mayor of Gryfów Śląski.
Good news for tourists and spa visitors
Świeradów-Zdrój is one of the best-known resorts in Lower Silesia. The return of trains to this picturesque town will benefit tourists, skiers and spa visitors alike. From the station in Świeradów-Zdrój, free municipal buses will take passengers to any selected hotel or sanatorium in no more than 20 minutes.
“An orchestra welcomed the first train in our town after almost three decades, showing how joyful this event is for us. The resort, visited by one million tourists and spa visitors every year, has just been freed from railway exclusion,” says Roland Marciniak, mayor of Świeradów-Zdrój.
From December 10 this year, Koleje Dolnośląskie will gain another connection with the Czech railway system. The municipal buses that travel free of charge from Świeradów-Zdrój to Nové Město pod Smrkem are included in the Czech IDOS system as an extension of the Liberec–Nové Město line.
The turbulent history of the Izera Railway
The railway line from Gryfów Śląski to Mirsk was built in 1884. The section from Mirsk to Świeradów-Zdrój was built in 1909. The last passenger train left Mirsk in 1996. Now, after 27 years, passenger services will return to the route.
“The revitalization of this line is a major convenience for the residents of Mirsk, especially those commuting to work and school. We are also hoping for more tourists. Now it is time for the next step: renovating the station,” says Andrzej Jasiński, mayor of Mirsk.
The railway line to Świeradów-Zdrój is one of the railway lines taken over by the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Lower Silesia is the only region in Poland that takes over hundreds of kilometres of railway lines, revitalizes them and restores passenger services on them.
“Over the past five years, Koleje Dolnośląskie trains have reached new towns in Lower Silesia inhabited by nearly 200,000 people. I am very pleased that our trains are always given a warm welcome by large crowds of residents, which shows that the voivodeship’s strategy of expanding the network of connections is the right one,” says Wojciech Zdanowski, vice-president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.
The investment cost PLN 60,000,000 and received funding from European Union resources and the state budget. Local governments also contributed financially. The municipality of Świeradów-Zdrój contributed PLN 5 million, while Gryfów Śląski and Mirsk each contributed PLN 1 million.