Kraków 2021-09-20
PKP Kraków Bronowice.
Geographic coordinates: 50.083N 19.892E.
Description of the photo: Train EN78-008, connection SKA1, at Platform 3, on the line No. 118 in the direction of the Krakow Airport (Balice Airport).
The PKP Kraków Bronowice passenger stop is another new investment that was built in the Kraków railway junction. This is a stop that was not originally planned. The idea of its creation was born as a result of the analysis of possible possibilities of transporting passengers by the Agglomeration Railway of residents of large Krakow housing estates, such as the Widok and Azory estates, which are located near the E30 railway line. The new Kraków Bronowice train stop is located at ul. Armii Krajowej, in the area where the railway lines intersect in the direction of Kraków Airport and Katowice, and towards the metallurgical complex, bypassing the center of Krakow.
In many ways it is a specific place. When the construction of the Huta Lenina combine (April 26, 1950) and the city of Nowa Huta began, it was decided to distribute new tracks running from the Kraków Mydlniki station to Huta Lenina, which bypass Kraków in a large arc. Two more viaducts for the new route were added to the existing viaduct over the then Bronowicka Street. In addition, an apparent tangle of tracks was created, which at crossings led in or over tunnels. Back then, the technology of building short reinforced concrete tunnels was the most widely used. New tracks were built and electrified straight away. The route leading to Huta Lenina was initially only one-track. The second track was added in the 70s. The trail is marked No. 95 and connects Kraków Mydlniki - Podłęże. It was planned to create a Kraków Tonie passenger stop on this route, but it never happened. Passenger trains did not run on this route and they do not run.
As for reinforced concrete tunnels, they can still be found in various parts of Poland as built, but not used, because the plans have changed.
In 50 years, this place was desolate. The nearest houses were hundreds of meters away. There were fields and wastelands all around. The aforementioned Bronowicka Street from the northern side of the viaducts led to a small roundabout where the roads leading to Olkusz and Krzeszowice departed. Now this small roundabout has turned into a three-level intersection. Housing estates with large blocks of flats and single-family housing estates were built nearby. New roads were built. The tram line from Bronowice Wielkie (loop at Lucjana Rydla Street) was extended by 1,800 m to the Widok estate. Public utility buildings were built. The conditions have changed, and most of all, the number of inhabitants has increased.
In 2016, as part of the renovation of the E30 railway route, renovation of the old viaducts over Armii Krajowej Street (formerly Bronowicka) was started, and as part of the PLK investment, tracks, turnouts, overhead contact line and railway traffic control devices were replaced. On the Kraków - Mysłowice section, the investment cost was PLN 304 million.
In 2017, the construction of the Kraków Bronowice railway stop began. Due to the terrain and the spacing of individual tracks, a unique railway stop has been designed with as many as four platforms. The platforms are located at two different heights.
The base of the Kraków Bronowice stop is a tunnel for passengers and residents running under the railway tracks parallel to Armii Krajowej Street. There are three entrances to the platforms - from ul. Armii Krajowej, Radzikowski and Bronowicka. The tunnel is spacious and has eight glazed commercial spaces to be developed as retail and service outlets. There are also toilets, toilets for the disabled with changing tables for children and technical rooms. Each of the four platforms is accessed by stairs, escalators, and lifts for people in wheelchairs, with small children in prams or for cyclists. Platforms 1 and 2 are platforms for servicing trains going in the direction of: Katowice, Krzeszowice, Trzebinia, Oświęcim, Wodzisław Śląski, Tarnów, Rzeszów. It is line No. 133. TLK and PolRegio trains stop here. Platforms 3 and 4 are platforms serviced by trains going to / from the Airport, served by Koleje Małopolskie, along route No. 118. Platform 3 is an odd track. Platform 4 is an even track. Next to the passenger stop, there are also railway lines No. 95 ("Big Ring Road") and No. 100 ("Small Ring Road"), both used for freight traffic.
On all platforms there are shelters, benches, showcase railway information, lighting and sound system. In addition to information about the trains that stop at the stop, there are also messages about cruising trains that pass the stop at a speed of up to 160 km / h and you should be especially careful. The surface of the platforms is equipped with directional paths and warning lines. The platforms are of the high type. The distance from the rail head is 0.5 - 0.6 m. Platforms 1 and 2 are 160 meters long. Platforms 3 and 4 are 100 meters long, set on pillars. All stop facilities are monitored. In this way, the safety of travelers is increased and the risk of vandalism and graffiti work is minimized. Although pseudo artists, and for us vandals, have already smeared new railway viaducts.
On June 14, 2020, the Kraków Bronowice stop was officially opened by the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Andrzej Adamczyk and the President of PKP PLK, Mr. Ireneusz Merchel.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman