Lower Silesian railways in 10 years: experts debated at the first Lower Silesian Railway Forum

For several years, Lower Silesia has been experiencing a railway renaissance. An increasing number of the region’s residents are choosing this form of transport, and railway-related issues are attracting considerable public interest. In response to this need for information, Koleje Dolnośląskie organised the first Lower Silesian Railway Forum.

Railways in Lower Silesia in 10 years

“There is no other region in Poland that has taken such a decisive approach to improving access to rail transport. Others often focus on traffic around agglomerations; we are doing everything we can to ensure that residents throughout Lower Silesia have access to modern rail,” noted Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. “That is why, in 2025, rail services will reach further towns in Lower Silesia: Mysłakowice and Karpacz. Although the flood halted work on this project, the white-and-yellow trains will soon reach another resort in the Karkonosze Mountains. The same applies to many other places where trains will return after years, including on tracks renovated with the voivodeship’s own funds.

During the debate, participants identified specific connections planned to be launched in the coming years. These include a line to Złotoryja, where preliminary work is already under way, as well as a line to Stronie Śląskie, for which tender procedures are currently being completed.

“Thanks to the actions of Koleje Dolnośląskie, the support of local government and European funds, significant and positive changes are taking place in Lower Silesia. The development of rolling stock, the revitalisation of infrastructure and the construction of technical facilities are the results of joint work and commitment. The time has come for further, broader action—additional investment in these areas and the development of new connections in cooperation with other local governments. In this respect, Lower Silesia is a good example for other regions in Poland,” said Karol Trammer, editor-in-chief of the bimonthly magazine “Z Biegiem Szyn” and author of the book “Ostre cięcie: jak niszczono polską kolej”.

The electrification of existing lines was also discussed extensively, including the Podsudecka route, which runs from Legnica through the county capitals of Jawor, Świdnica, Dzierżoniów and Ząbkowice Śląskie.

“We are talking to representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure so that this line can be electrified and its speed increased over the next decade,” explained Damian Stawikowski, president of Koleje Dolnośląskie. “Another example of work planned by the Ministry is the announced and already ongoing revitalisation of the Nadodrzanka line, which will shorten travel times to Brzeg Dolny, Wołów and Ścinawa on routes to Wrocław. Renovating this line will also allow us to increase the number of train pairs, including accelerated services—the so-called Sprinters,” he added.

Participants also stressed the need to increase the capacity of the Wrocław Railway Junction, an essential part of which should be the swiftest possible opening of Wrocław Świebodzki station. Another objective is to increase the number of train pairs on non-electrified routes, including the Podsudecka line, where a tender has already been announced for the purchase of new diesel vehicles.

“Together with the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, we want to make public transport easier for more passengers to use. Our goal is for the percentage of people travelling by train in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship to continue to grow steadily over the next decade. This is crucial for the sustainable development of the region, including its capital, which is already reached by more than 10 million people travelling with Koleje Dolnośląskie every year. Let us remember that trains, not new roads, are the most effective way to reduce congestion in cities,” concluded Damian Stawikowski.

EU funds have transformed railways

The debates also emphasised the importance of European Union programmes, which have helped accelerate railway development in the region.

“We obtained more than one billion złotys in EU funding for the purchase of rolling stock and the construction of both service halls,” said Barbara Kulewicz, vice-president of Koleje Dolnośląskie. “Another 10, or perhaps even 20, electric trains will soon appear in Lower Silesia, also purchased with EU support. The KD fleet will then exceed 100 vehicles in total,” she added.

The Forum itself was organised in connection with funding obtained for the purchase of 10 Elf vehicles from the PESA factory in Bydgoszcz, with co-financing from the European Funds for Lower Silesia.

Connections across voivodeship borders

During the Forum, it was also announced that, from 15 December, only Koleje Dolnośląskie trains would operate regional services on the Wrocław–Zielona Góra line.

“We have reached an agreement with the Marshal’s Office of the Lubusz Voivodeship under which all regional connections from Zielona Góra to Wrocław will be operated by the Lower Silesian carrier,” said Michał Rado, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship responsible for railways. “Connections to Zielona Góra will run both via Legnica and Lubin and via Wołów,” he added.

Wojciech Zdanowski, vice-president of Koleje Dolnośląskie, also took part in the debate on connections across voivodeship borders.

“We operate on nearly 1,500 km of railway routes, and our trains are increasingly reaching not only neighbouring voivodeships but also destinations abroad, in Germany and the Czech Republic,” said Wojciech Zdanowski, vice-president of Koleje Dolnośląskie.

At present, regional trains from the capital of Lower Silesia can reach Zielona Góra, Opole and Poznań.

The first Lower Silesian Railway Forum was held in the Session Hall of Wrocław Główny—a hall renovated in 2011 with support from European Union funds. The event was open to guests and was attended by several dozen people.