Independent Poland railways History of rail transport in Poland

pkp pt31 series (1932–1940)



one share of polish first locomotive factory in chrzanów

gaining independence on 11 november 1918 allowed poland reclaim former russian , austrian sectors military railways. railway department in ministry of communication created , polish railways officially named polskie koleje państwowe.

in december 1918, great poland uprising started. rebels took on former prussian sector of railways. 1 year later, fights lwów on , former austrian railway directorate taken on poland , left-hand traffic infrastructure reconstructed. taking on railways prussians lasted until 1921.

in 1919, stanislaw rodowicz, eng. developed first draft of container system in poland. in 1920 build prototype of biaxial wagon. polish-bolshevik war halted development of container system in poland.

after victory on red army in polish-bolshevik war (1920), great deal of damage in railway structure discovered on route along communists retreating. @ same time, tense relations lithuania led railways around wilno , minsk partial disintegration , stagnation. libau–romny railway not recovered.

polish railways administration took on railways in upper silesia in 1922. same year, decision made divide railways in poland 9 administrative districts.

an economic crisis in 1930s forced state cut budget railway investment. profit decreased 50% compared 1929. next year, on 23,000 pkp employees had been dismissed , protests , strikes causes authorities try find solution. end of crisis , increase of cargo transport , income came in 1937.