Podłęże 2022-08-13
The Podłęże railway station next to Krakow.
Podłęże is a village in Poland, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in the Wieliczka Poviat, in the Niepołomice Commune. Podłęże is located approximately 20 km from the center of Krakow, 6 km from Niepołomice and 8 km from Wieliczka. The provincial road No. 964 runs through the village, and the A4 motorway runs 0.5 km away.
Geographic coordinates: 50.018N 20.168E.
The history of Podłęże.
In 2008, a Celtic settlement from the 3rd - 2nd century BC was discovered in the area of the village. As many as 17 huts were discovered. Everyday items, ornaments and coins have been found. The first written mention of the village comes from 1242. The village was owned by the Benedictine Church Abbey in Staniątki. There was a farm here. Currently, the village belongs to the Niepołomice Investment Zone. In 2019, the village of Podłęże had 2,125 inhabitants.
Railway station Podłęże.
The Podłęże railway station is located on the important railway route No. 91 Kraków Główny - Medyka. The station is a junction and the Kraków Railway Junction begins from it (on the eastern side). This is where the Kraków goods bypass begins; line Podłęże - Mydlniki. Formerly, there was a railway route to Niepołomice. The Podłęże railway station was opened on February 20, 1856 and was a freight and passenger station from the very beginning.
After the Second World War, the Podłęże station was significantly expanded. It was connected with the construction of the Kraków goods bypass and the construction of the metallurgical plant "Huta Lenina". At that time, two island, two-edge platforms were built at the station. Platform 1 near the station building. Platform 2 on the northern side of the station. There were as many as five tracks between the platforms. Initially, the platforms had a soil surface. In 60 years, the platforms were raised, an asphalt surface was made and the shelters of the stop type were erected. Three canopies on one platform. The platforms were illuminated by street lamps with mercury bulbs. Megaphones were installed for railway information messages. A footbridge was built over the track in order to safely reach the platforms. The footbridge was constructed of metal.
There was a ticket office and a waiting room in the station building. The toilets were in a separate brick building. The station still exists today, but it serves only as housing for railway families.
In the period 2012 - 2015, the entire Podłęże station was rebuilt. A new track system, a new traction network and a new traffic control system were built. New platforms were built. One-edge platform 1 next to the station building. 2-island, two-edge platform. Currently, the platforms are 0.55 m high, from the rail head, and 200 m long. The footbridge over the tracks has been removed. An underpass was built under the tracks. Elevators have been installed for disabled passengers. Ticket machines of Koleje Małopolskie have been installed at the station. The toilet is in the northern P&R car park in the form of a TOI-TOI booth.
In 2020, car parks for P&R passenger cars and bus stops from Niepołomice were built on the southern and northern side of the Podłęże station. On the north side, a ramp and a loading yard were built, which is rare these days. The loading ramp is used by companies that operate in Niepołomice. In the area of Podłęże station, on the west side, there is the PKP Energetyka plant, Podstacja Trakcyjna and Swietelsky Rail Polska (technical base). Swietelsky Rail Polska is a general contractor of railway construction investments.
Currently (2022), the railway traffic at the Podłęże junction is controlled from the new "Pd" control room located near the station. In 2020, the Podłęże station served up to 1,000 passengers.
Railway routes.
Railway line No. 91 Kraków Główny - Medyka, two-track, electrified, 258.974 km long. In 1948, the line was No. 124, and in 1988, it was No. 120.
Railway line No. 95 Kraków Mydlniki - Podłęże, double-track, electrified, 34.589 km long. It is the so-called large goods perimeter line, but it is also used in passenger traffic. In 1988, the line was No. 122.
Railway line No. 113 Podłęże - Niepołomice. The line was built in 1897. The line length was 4.523 km. In the 1960s, the line was electrified. Traffic was suspended in 2000 and the line was pulled down in 2005. In 1948, the line was No. 115, and in 1988, it was No. 121.
The construction of the Podłęże - Piekiełko railway line is planned, which is to shorten the route from Krakow to Zakopane and Krynica. Piekiełko is a town near the Chabówka - Nowy Sącz railway line. This line is single-track, non-electrified. If the Podłęże - Piekiełko line was built, the Chabówka - Nowy Sącz line would be modernized and electrified.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman