Kraków 2022-11-10
Kraków Sanctuary railway station.
Geographic coordinates: 50.014N 19.934E. Elevation 218 m above sea level The stop is located at the railway line No. 94 Kraków Płaszów - Oświęcim, and exactly between the Kraków Łagiewniki stop and the Kraków Swoszowice stop.
Description of the photo: View towards the south.
Description of the photo: View towards the north. The PolRegio train from Kraków to Wadowice goes to the stop.
To explain the history of the creation of the Krakow Sanctuary passenger stop, we must go back to the times of operation of the Solvay Plant, and more specifically the Krakow Sodium Solvay Plant. The factory was established in 1906. Without going into the chemical formulas, the production of soda using the Solvay method consisted in the extraction of limestone (calcium carbonate) in the Zakrzówek quarry, which was transported by narrow-gauge railway to the factory. The following materials were used in the production: sodium chloride (rock salt) imported from Wieliczka, as well as coke and ammonia. The semi-finished products were transported from the factory, also by narrow-gauge railway, to the landfill and this is how the "White Seas" were created. The seasoned intermediate was used for further production. But the "White Seas" grew anyway. The factory had a siding on the standard gauge railway line No. 94, which it used together with the "Armatura" factory. But the advances in chemistry made the production of soda using the Solvay method unprofitable and was harmful. Far in the period 1989 - 1996 the factory was liquidated. Various trading companies were built on the premises of the factory, most of all the "Zakopianka" Shopping Center. The problem of the "White Seas" remained. Out of several proposals, the construction of the John Paul II Center, the main object of which is the sanctuary, was chosen. The aim was to preserve the memory of the greatest Polish family - Saint John Paul II - who is currently (2022) heavily attacked by Freemasonry. Karol Wojtyła, a cleric, worked in the Solvay Works during the German occupation. The relic of Saint John Paul II is a tombstone from the Vatican. After the new temple was built, pilgrims began to come here.
Therefore, the PKP company very willingly agreed to create another passenger stop, Krakow Sanctuary. An additional motive was the approaching in August 2016, the World Youth Day with Pope Francis. City councilors actively participated in the implementation of the investment. The main investor of the stop was the Krakow City Hall. The construction was commissioned to Sanel, which has been operating on the construction services market since 1992. The cost of building the stop, including infrastructure, was PLN 28 million.
The Kraków Sanctuary passenger stop was built in the period 2014 - 2016. It was located at the back of the "Zakopianka" Shopping Center, in the place of the former railway sidings. The historic landmark at the stop is the narrow-gauge railway abutment, which serves as an observation deck. It was built around 1920. The first passengers used the stop in July 2016.
Important elements of the stop are two pedestrian and bicycle bridges, which you can use to get to the platforms. The first was the southern footbridge, which was ready in July 2016. The northern footbridge was put into use in October 2016. Przystanek Kraków Sanctuary is distinguished by its location and aesthetics. On the eastern side there is a high escarpment of the "White Seas". Therefore, it was easy to design two footbridges here. There are many widows and escalators at the stop. There are also bus shelters and small architecture. There are also ticket machines.
Since 2017, the Szybka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (Fast Agglomeration Railway) operated by Koleje Małopolskie has operated on the railway line No. 94. From 2021, Koleje Małopolskie trains arrive at the Podbory Skawińskie stop. The stop is also served by PolRegio regional railways. During the day, 32 trains stop at the stop. A ticket on the route Krakow Sanctuary - Krakow Główny costs PLN 5.50.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman