Rawicz 2022-07-07

The city of Rawicz.

Rawicz is a town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, and the seat of the Rawicz Urban-Rural Commune. The town of Rawicz was founded in 1638. For centuries, the town was inhabited by Poles, Jews, and Germans. After the victorious Greater Poland Uprising in 1919, Rawicz found itself within the borders of the Reborn Polish Republic. At that time, it was a border town, both on railway and road routes.

The foolish Germans started World War II, which they lost, and as a result of the decision of the dictator-Tsar Stalin, the town of Rawicz found itself far from the Polish-German border.

According to 2019 data, the town of Rawicz had a population of 19,624. The town’s area is 113 hectares.

Rawicz airstrip – Szymanowo.

Geographic coordinates: 51.615N 16.904E.

The Rawicz – Szymanowo airstrip is a powered hang glider airfield. The runway is dirt (grass), marked for flight times. The runway follows a curved path, bending southward. The RWY is in the 100/280 direction. It measures 440 m x 10 m. Elevation: 305 ft.

Rawicz Railway Station.

Geographic coordinates: 51.609 N 16.839 E. Elevation: 96 m. Address: Dworcowa 1, 63-900 Rawicz.

The Rawicz railway station is located on the western outskirts of the city, on the border with the village of Masłowo. The Rawicz railway station was built along the Wrocław-Poznań railway line. The station opened in 1856. During German rule, the station was called Rawitsch. The first train stopped at the station on September 27, 1856. The official opening of the Wrocław-Poznań line took place on October 29, 1856.

From 1945 to 2017, Rawicz station had three platforms: Platform 1, a single-edge platform, 350 meters long; Platform 2 and 3, island platforms, each with two edges, 300 meters long. There was also a separate Platform 1A, 70 meters long. The platforms were low-rise, with most of the surface made of paving slabs and trilining. The platforms had shelters for bus stops. An underpass connected Platforms 1, 2, and 3. Shelters were placed above the tunnel entrances.

Rawicz station included two wagon scales, a locomotive shed, a turntable, railway service buildings, a water tower, several water cranes, a “gauge,” and other structures. The wagon shed, locomotive shed, and railway forwarding building were demolished between 2005 and 2007.

The water tower stands approximately 300 meters from the station, at the intersection of Sportowa and Saperska streets, east of the tracks.

From 2017 to 2021, Rawicz station underwent a major renovation. The renovation included the platforms, tracks, overhead lines, and an underpass to the platforms. As a result, the station has two platforms: one single-edge platform at the station and one island platform with two edges. The entire modernization was associated with the major renovation of railway line No. 271. Following the modernization of line No. 271 in 2022, Rawicz station is no longer a junction station. As part of the work, the track system was rebuilt. Currently, in 2021, trains are served by four main tracks, three of which are located near the platforms. Only the side tracks remain partially unmodernized. Train traffic is controlled from the “Ra” signal box, which is equipped with computerized equipment and traffic lights.

Three level crossings located within Rawicz station have been replaced by two railway viaducts. Roads have been built into tunnels beneath the tracks. The construction of the viaducts in Rawicz eliminated conflicting rail-road crossings. The road built under the tracks along Piłsudskiego and Śląska Streets is over 400 meters long, with two lanes and sidewalks. On Świętojańska Street, the construction included the construction of a 260-meter road primarily for pedestrians and cyclists, but also allowing passenger cars to pass. A significant element of the modernization is the construction of passenger elevators. They were installed at the station and as part of the viaduct along Piłsudskiego and Śląska Streets. Piłsudskiego – Śląska.

Currently, according to the Polish State Railways (PKP) classification, the station is a regional station. In 2021, the station served up to 2,000 passengers daily.

It’s worth noting that there was a second railway station in Rawicz – the Rawicz Wschód passenger stop, on the railway line towards Miejska Górka station. The stop opened in 1898. It served as a cargo hold. At the Rawicz Wschód station, there were goods warehouses (holding bays).

Rawicz Station.

The current Rawicz station was built around 1895. It successfully survived two world wars. In the intervening 1960s, the station was renovated, including the installation of central heating.

On February 27, 2014, a contract was signed with SKB Development for a complete renovation of the station. The renovation was completed quickly, opening the station on March 19, 2015. The renovation included the exterior façade, roof, and the entire interior. The station was adapted to accommodate passengers with disabilities.

Railway lines in Rawicz.

Railway line No. 271, Wrocław Główny – Poznań Główny, is a national route, 163.753 km long, double-track, electrified. Rawicz station is located at km 63.06 of railway line No. 271. In 1948, the line was numbered 246/313, and in 1988, it was numbered 330.

The former Rawicz – Legnica railway line was single-track. It was owned by the private Koleje Legnicko – Rawicka SA – Liegnitz-Rawitscher Eisenbahn AG. The company was founded on May 25, 1897. The line ran through the towns of Wasosz, Korzelów, and Ścinawa. In 1948, the line had line number 245, and in 1988, line number 269. In the 1990s, the route was partially dismantled. The Legnica-Rawicz railway line was extended to Kobylin station and officially opened on February 5, 1898. The entire route was popularly known as “Kobylinka.” The important Leszno-Ostrów Wielkopolski route runs through Kobylin station. The “Kobylinka” line was 113.027 km long. In 1948, the Rawicz-Kobylin section had line number 312a to Miejska Górka station and then line number 312d, and in 1988, line number 327. The line was operated as a freight and passenger line. Due to the poor performance of the route, passenger traffic was suspended along the entire section in 1991. Road transport was much more efficient. Freight transport was suspended in sections between 1992 and 2000. In 2014, the Rawicz-Kobylin line had line number 362 and a section at Legnica Północna station as line number 382, and this section is used sporadically for freight traffic.

In 2010, Miejska Górka railway station was already abandoned. The station itself retains five tracks. One track was occasionally used by the “Cukrowania Miejska Górka” (Cuking Miejska Górka). It should be noted that Miejska Górka station was a junction station. In 2020, the exit from Rawicz station to “Kobylinka” towards Miejska Górka was closed.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman