Below: the new platform is now operational at Chynów. It has a passing loop (to the right). Here we see an 'up' train on its way to Warsaw (centre) and a Warka-bound train (right). The Warsaw train was a few minutes late, so the Warka train was held at Chynów, the only place where two trains can pass one another between Czachówek Południowy and Warka. The remains of the old platform (left) will soon be demolished. The modernised 'down' track will run straight along the alignment of the old platform instead of swinging around it. Time to ride down from Chynów to Warka to see what's happening...
Below: here's the new platform at Krężel, the next station south of Chynów. Looking south.
Below: the old shelter and the old platform at Krężel, looking north. Again, the old platform will make way for the new track, which will no longer run adjacent to the shelter.
Next stop - Michalczew. Below: here's the new platform, looking south. You can see the old tracks to the left which will be ripped up and replaced by new ones laid closer to the new tracks.
Below: looking north; the old platform at Michalczew, again due for prompt demolition.
Below: the most remote station on this section of the line in terms of size of community served and distance from the nearest habitation - Gośniewice (population 216). Here's the new platform...
...and below - what's left of the old platform, looking north. The rest has already been torn down, something that must have happened during the course of the past week.
And on to Warka, the current end of the line. One new platform is open - this will be a much bigger station, ranking above Czachówek Południowy in terms of importance. Passing loops and a freight siding will be built here soon. To the extreme left in the distance, a waiting bus for the replacement service that takes passengers south towards Radom. A less than satisfactory solution, one that's bound to result in many people taking their custom elsewhere for the duration. According to the current timetable, to get to Radom from here on the replacement bus is a two-hour journey! It's only 44km down the line from Warka to Radom!
Below: station building at Warka; beyond the platform's end the line curves to the right and dips down towards the Pilica river crossing.
Below: as trains do not go beyond Warka, the two level crossings south of the station are no longer manned or gated. This is by the crossing at ul. Felixa Nowakowskiego. In the distance, to the right, you can just about see the new bridge...
Below: high over ul. Lotników, the old level-crossing keeper's post; from up here they could operate both crossings. This little hut is just about visible to the right of the photo above.
Below: looking south towards the new bridge. The old one stood to the left and has now been totally demolished. There are no tracks here at all - the old ones have been ripped out, the new ones have not yet been installed. I guess it will be next autumn before one line runs from Warka down to Radom - but I'm hoping it will be sooner!
Below: back to Chynów before it gets dark. My motorbike stands on where the ballast for the new track has been awaiting its purpose these past two years; around half of it has been used, the other half awaits the 'down' line. The tracks in the foreground are for the freight sidings at Chynów; note the concrete sleepers stockpiled to the right.
This time last year:
The possibilities of a quantum universe
This time two years ago:
More about sleep
This time seven years ago:
On behalf of the workshy community
This time eight years ago:
Classic truck cavalcade
This time nine years ago
Narrow back-roads clogged with commuters
This time ten years ago:
Autumn gold, Łazienkowski Park
This time 12 years ago:
Of bishops and bands
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2 comments:
Michael, why do you think that the work proceeds at a slow pace? Is this simply the cheapest way? (Presumably there is no equivalent to the costly compensation paid to train operators in the UK.) Is there a political imperative that leads to one line staying open (vs. a blockade)? Is the issue shortage of market capacity to resource this kind of work? A shortage of critical resources (such as signalling engineers)? Or something else? It would be interesting to compare this project with something like North Cotswold re-doubling in the UK.
@WHP
The problem in Poland is a surfeit of EU funds - too many projects with not enough workers - and above all, far too few skilled project managers. Nearly all passenger train operators are public sector. However, private-sector cargo operators are compensated when track closures necessitate having to take the long way round.
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