Wojanowski Tunnel
| Wojanowski Tunnel | |
|---|---|
The tunnel during construction in 1865 | |
Interactive map of Wojanowski Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Other name | Rohrlacher Tunnel (German) |
| Line | Wrocław Świebodzki–Zgorzelec railway |
| Location | Wojanów / Trzcińsko, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland |
| Status | Active[1] |
| Crosses | Góra Tunelowa (historically Hummelberg), Dziwiszowskie Hills |
| Start | Trzcińsko side |
| End | Wojanów side |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 15 August 1867[2] |
| Owner | PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe |
| Operator | PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe |
| Traffic | Railway |
| Character | Double-track railway tunnel in a single bore |
| Technical | |
| Length | 293 m (961 ft)[1][3] |
The Wojanowski Tunnel (Tunel Wojanowski), historically known as the Rohrlacher Tunnel, is a railway tunnel in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of south-western Poland, between Wojanów and Trzcińsko. It carries the Wrocław Świebodzki–Zgorzelec railway, historically part of the Silesian Mountain Railway, beneath Góra Tunelowa in the Dziwiszowskie Hills.[3][4]
At 293 m (961 ft) in length, it is one of the oldest railway tunnels in present-day Poland and is generally described as the first tunnel built on the Silesian Mountain Railway.[3][4]
Description
The tunnel lies on railway line no. 274, on the important regional and long-distance route linking Wrocław with Jelenia Góra and Zgorzelec.[1] It passes beneath Góra Tunelowa, a hill rising to about 440 metres above sea level in the Dziwiszowskie Hills, several kilometres east of Jelenia Góra.[3]
The structure was built as a broad single bore for two tracks.[4][2] Historical descriptions state that it was fully lined with granite blocks when opened in 1867.[2] In the 21st century the tunnel retained double-track operation, but the clearance profile was no longer sufficient for two trains to pass simultaneously at normal line speed until reconstruction works were carried out in 2023–2024.[1]
History
The tunnel was constructed during the building of the Silesian Mountain Railway through the foothills and mountains of south-western Silesia.[4] According to local historical accounts, it was the first of the line's tunnels to be completed, and excavation through the hard granite rock was finished during 1865.[4]
The tunnel entered service on 15 August 1867 together with the opening of the mountain railway section toward Wałbrzych.[2] It was then known as the Rohrlacher Tunnel, after the nearby village of Rohrlach, now Trzcińsko.[2]
In the final days of the Second World War, the tunnel was damaged by demolition, interrupting traffic on the route.[5] The line was later restored and resumed its role as one of the principal railway connections into the Karkonosze region.[5]
2023–2024 reconstruction
In March 2023, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe began a major reconstruction of the tunnel.[6] The works widened the tunnel from about 8.3 metres to 11 metres, replaced the track and overhead line, renewed the drainage system and restored the historic portals in consultation with the heritage conservator.[1][2]
The reconstruction used the "tunnel in tunnel" method, described by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe as the first use of this technology in Poland for a railway tunnel of this kind.[1] A Tunnel Enlargement Machine nicknamed Katarzyna was used to remove sections of the old stone lining and allow the construction of a new reinforced-concrete lining while limiting disruption to rail traffic.[1][7]
The rebuilt tunnel entered full service in June 2024. After reconstruction, two trains were again able to pass each other inside the tunnel, and PKP stated that journey times on the route were reduced by about four minutes.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Szerszy tunel na trasie Wrocław - Jelenia Góra to korzyści dla podróżnych" (in Polish). PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "Polen: Sanierung des Rohrlacher Tunnels" (in German). Lok Report. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d "W czerwcu sprawniejsze podróże na trasie Wrocław – Jelenia Góra" (in Polish). PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Tunel w Trzcińsku był pierwszy" (in Polish). Nowiny Jeleniogórskie. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Elektrischer Zugbetrieb in Schlesien" (in German). Elektrische Bahnen. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "Dolny Śląsk: dla większych możliwości kolei PLK SA rozpoczynają prace w tunelu w Trzcińsku" (in Polish). PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "Katarzyna drąży już tunel kolejowy na Dolnym Śląsku" (in Polish). PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2026.