Podłęże 2022-08-13

Podłęże Railway Station near Krakow.

Geographic coordinates: 50.018N 20.168E. Elevation 198 m. Address: Kolejowa Street 100, 32-003 Podłęże, Niepołomice Commune, Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

Podłęże is a village in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Wieliczka County, and Niepołomice Commune. Podłęże is located approximately 20 km from the center of Kraków, 6 km from Niepołomice, and 8 km from Wieliczka. Regional road No. 964 runs through the village, and the A4 motorway is 0.5 km away.

History of Podłęże.

In 2008, a Celtic settlement dating back to the 3rd or 2nd century BC was discovered within the village. As many as 17 huts were discovered. Everyday objects, ornaments, and coins were found. The first written mention of the village dates back to 1242. The village belonged to the Benedictine Church Abbey in Staniątki. There was a manor farm there. Currently, the village is part of the Niepołomice Investment Zone. In 2019, the village of Podłęże had a population of 2,125.

Podłęże Railway Station.

Podłęże railway station is located on the important railway route No. 91 Kraków Główny – Medyka. The station is a junction, and from here (on the eastern side) the Kraków Railway Junction begins. This is where the Kraków freight bypass begins: the Podłęże – Mydlniki line. Formerly, there was a railway line to Niepołomice. Podłęże railway station opened on February 20, 1856, and from the very beginning served as a freight and passenger station.

After World War II, Podłęże station was significantly expanded. This was associated with the construction of the Kraków freight bypass and the construction of the “Huta Lenina” steelworks. At that time, two island platforms with double edges were built at the station: Platform 1 near the station building. Platform 2 on the northern side of the station level. There were five tracks between the platforms. Initially, the platforms had a dirt surface. In the 1960s, the platforms were raised, asphalt paved, and shelters were erected. Three shelters were installed per platform. The platforms were illuminated with streetlights equipped with mercury vapor bulbs. Loudspeakers were installed for railway information announcements. A footbridge was built over the tracks to provide safe access to the platforms. The footbridge was of metal construction. The station building housed a ticket office and a waiting room. Restrooms were located in a separate brick building. The station still exists today, but serves solely as residential accommodation for railway workers’ families.

Between 2012 and 2015, the entire Podłęże station was rebuilt. A new track system, new overhead contact lines, and a new traffic control system were built. New platforms were constructed. Platform 1 is a single-edge platform next to the station building. Platform 2 is an island platform with two edges. Currently, the platforms are 0.55 m high from the railhead and 200 m long. The footbridge over the tracks was removed. An underpass was built beneath the tracks. Elevators were installed for disabled passengers. Małopolskie Railways ticket machines were installed at the station. A restroom is located in the northern P&R parking lot, in the form of a TOI-TOI booth.

In 2020, P&R parking lots for passenger cars were built on the southern and northern sides of Podłęże station, as well as bus stops on the Niepołomice side. A ramp and loading area were constructed on the northern side, a rarity these days. The loading ramp serves companies operating in Niepołomice. Near the Podłęże station, on the west side, are the PKP Energetyka plant, the Traction Substation, and Swietelsky Rail Polska (technical base). Swietelsky Rail Polska is the general contractor for railway construction projects.

Currently (2022), rail traffic at the Podłęże junction is controlled from the new “Pd” signal box located near the station. In 2020, Podłęże station served up to 1,000 passengers.

Railway lines.

Railway line No. 91 Kraków Główny – Medyka, double-track, electrified, 258.974 km long. In 1948, the line was numbered 124, and in 1988, it was numbered 120.

Railway line No. 95 Kraków Mydlniki – Podłęże, a double-track, electrified line, 34.589 km long. It is a so-called large ring freight line, but also used for passenger traffic. In 1988, the line was numbered 122.Linia kolejowa Nr 113 Podłęże – Niepołomice. Linia została zbudowana w 1897 roku. Długość linii wynosiła 4,523 km. W 60-latach XX wieku, linia została zelektryfikowana. Ruch zawieszono w 2000 roku, a linię rozebrano w 2005 roku. W 1948 roku, linia miała Nr 115, a w 1988 roku, miała Nr 121.

The construction of a Podłęże-Piekiełko railway line is planned, which will shorten the route from Kraków to Zakopane and Krynica. Piekiełko is a town near the Chabówka-Nowy Sącz railway line. This single-track line is not electrified. If the Podłęże-Piekiełko line is built, the Chabówka-Nowy Sącz line would be modernized and electrified.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman