Skawina 2023-09-20

Podbory Skawińskie Railway Station near Skawina.

Geographic coordinates: 49.966 N 19.772 E. Elevation 213 m.

Borek Szlachecki.

Borek Szlachecki is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Kraków County, and Skawina Commune. The town lies west of Skawina, with which it borders. Borek Szlachecki stretches along National Road No. 44 Kraków-Oświęcim. Railway line No. 94 Kraków-Płaszów-Oświęcim runs north of the town.

Beyond the tracks, to the north, lies the Łączański Canal, also known as the Łączany-Skawina Canal, which flows into the Vistula River system. The purpose of the Łączański Canal is to supply the Skawina Power Plant with water for industrial purposes. In Borek Szlachecki, on the Łączański Canal, there is a lock with the highest drop in Poland, at 12.0 meters. The lock is 85 meters long and 12 meters wide. The Borek Szlachecki Hydroelectric Power Plant is located nearby.

The population of Borek Szlachecki in 2022 was 1,502. From 1954 to 1961, the village was the seat of the Borek Szlachecki community, and after its dissolution, it became part of the Skawina community. Borek Szlachecki is home to a historic manor house and the parish of the Annunciation of the Lord.

PKP Podbory Skawińskie.

In the village of Borek Szlachecki, there is a railway station called Podbory Skawińskie. The station opened in 1951. Its primary purpose was and remains to deliver coal wagons to the Skawina Power Plant, as well as to serve the Construction Materials Factory (Zakłady Produkcji Elementów Budowlanych w Skawina). A railway siding was built to both plants, which (as of 2023) is still in operation. The entrance from the siding to the station is secured by a shunting signal and a protective rib. For passenger traffic, this is a through station, serving all passenger trains on line No. 94. The station was used by employees of factories in Skawina and commuters to schools in Skawina and Kraków.

The railway station is located on km 19,420 of the line No. 94 Kraków Płaszów – Oświęcim. Until 1958, it was just a passenger stop with two single-cornered platforms.

The station at Podbory Skawińskie is a typical example of socialist realist architecture in Poland. Socialist realism was an architectural style implemented in Poland between 1949 and 1956, within the then-current doctrine of socialist realism. This architecture was defined at the time as “socialist in content and national in form.” The primary emphasis was on form, with little regard for the functionality of buildings. Therefore, this style was quickly replaced by modernism, which emphasized spaciousness, light, and functionality. Modernism is also often referred to as functionalism. Modernist architecture is perceived as modern because it is adapted to the needs of its users. It is characterized by simple, geometric shapes, devoid of excessive decoration, and equipped with numerous large windows. Looking at the station at Podbory Skawińskie, we immediately imagine buildings erected in Nowa Huta. The station building housed a ticket and baggage office, a waiting room, a “RUCH” kiosk, and a bar. The upper floor was designated as apartments for railway employees.

Two platforms were built at the station: one island platform and one single-edge platform on the station side. Until 2022, passengers accessed Platform 2 via a walkway at track level. In 2022, a tunnel under the tracks opened, connecting Dworcowa Street, Platform 1, Platform 2, and Szuwarowa Street on the north side of the station. Three modern elevators were installed for passengers in wheelchairs, strollers, cyclists, and those with large luggage. Currently (2022), the platforms are accessible to people with disabilities.

Since 2022, Podbory Skawińskie station has been served by the Fast Commuter Rail (SKA). 20-22 pairs of trains serve the station daily. In 2022, after the reconstruction, the station served over 150 passengers daily. The station is served by the SKA2 Kraków Główny – Podbory Skawińskie route. In the future, the route is planned to be extended to Oświęcim. Train traffic at the station is controlled by the “PS” signal box. The level crossings along Szuwarowa and Topolowa streets are equipped with automatic barriers and traffic lights.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman