– This is an important step in restoring access to rail transport for the residents of the Jelenia Góra Valley. Opening this section will enable trains to return to Karpacz, and then to Kowary and Kamienna Góra. Lower Silesia is the national leader in railway investment. All these projects are created with the region's residents in mind, while also effectively supporting the tourism and economic development of our voivodeship – says Michał Rado, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
The reconstruction of the line to Karpacz is excellent news for the residents of the Jelenia Góra subregion, as well as for all Lower Silesians and tourists who visit the Karkonosze Mountains in large numbers. The work has been divided into two stages – Jelenia Góra – Mysłakowice (approximately 10 km long) and Mysłakowice – Karpacz (approximately 7 km long). The total cost of the investment exceeds 60 million zlotys.
– Sceptics said that carrying out this plan would take us a hundred years. As you can see, we completed it much faster. Several years ago, we set ourselves ambitious tasks – to restore transport accessibility, eliminate transport exclusion, and at the same time open these exceptionally attractive tourist areas to tourism. These railway connections will enable efficient travel to work, school and the doctor, as well as for tourism. They will also make it possible to retain valuable human capital in these areas – adds Cezary Przybylski, Deputy Chair of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly.
By taking over and revitalising out-of-service railway lines, the regional government is eliminating blank spots on the region's transport map. Thanks to the investment described, trains will subsequently also return to Kowary and Kamienna Góra. The revitalisation of the first section is currently under way, while the tender for the construction of the second section will be launched in the middle of next year.
– Terms of office and administrations change, but the fight against transport exclusion continues, and the strategies of our predecessors are being continued. Apart from this investment, several other revitalisation projects are under way in the region. I am glad that all of them are progressing according to the planned schedule, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the completion of the next ones – says Tymoteusz Myrda, councillor of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly.
Line 308, Jelenia Góra – Mysłakowice, was renovated with funding from the Polish Deal, and the cost of the work was PLN 21 million. The renovation lasted approximately 1.5 years, and the final finishing works are now being carried out.
– The return of these railway connections is a godsend for our mountain towns, which are struggling not with the number of tourists, but above all with the number of cars. There is a lack of parking spaces and wide streets, while the solution is simple – trains – observes Jerzy Pokój, Chair of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly.
The revitalisation of Line 340 on the Mysłakowice – Karpacz section is being carried out with the support of EU funds. The estimated total cost of revitalising this section is approximately PLN 41 million, including approximately PLN 23.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund and PLN 17.7 million from the Voivodeship Budget. Drainage has been completed on Line 340, the tracks have been laid, and the construction of platforms and the ballasting of the tracks with crushed stone are currently under way.