Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line 3988891 221459618 2008-06-24T16:21:40Z Erik1980 2505842 +img {{Infobox rail line |name = Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line |color = |logo = |logo_width = |image = Mapa LHS.png |image_width = 300px |caption = Network map |type = Freight |system = UIC60 |status = |locale = |start = Bridge at [[Western Bug|Bug]] river |end = Dąbrowa Górnicza-Cieśle |stations = 6 |routes = 1 |ridership = |open = Construction commenced [[November 15]] [[1976]], opened [[November 30]] [[1979]] |close = |owner = |operator = [[PKP LHS|PKP LHS Sp. z o.o.]] |character = |stock = |linelength = 394.65 km |tracklength = 600 km |notrack = |gauge = 1520 mm |el = No |speed = |elevation = |map = |}} '''Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line''' (Polish ''Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa'' often known by its acronym '''LHS'''), is the longest [[broad gauge]] [[railway line]] in [[Poland]]. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the [[standard gauge]] for its railway tracks. The line runs as a single track line for almost 400 km, from the Polish-[[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] border crossing just east of [[Hrubieszów]] to [[Sławków]] Południowy (near [[Katowice]]). It is used only for freight traffic, mainly iron ore and coal. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries which before 1991 constituted the [[Soviet Union]]. The line is operated by [[PKP LHS|PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa Spólka z o.o.]] company. The previous name of the line was ''Linia Hutniczo Siarkowa'' ([[English language|en.]] ''Metallurgy - sulphur line''), but after sulphur ceased to be transported on the line its name had been changed, keeping the initials the same. ==History== In the 1970s the giant newly built [[Huta Katowice]] [[steel mill]], then in its most prosperous period, required great quantities of iron ore. The main source of the ore were mines near [[Kryvyi Rih]] (then in the [[USSR]], now in Ukraine), from where it was transported by rail via [[Medyka]], [[Przemyśl]], [[Tarnów]] to Jaworzno Szczakowa. This line had inadequate capacity to carry the traffic. Searching for a solution [[PKP]] considered two plans. The first one was to modernise the existing tracks in order to allow more freight to be carried. The second plan assumed building an entirely new broad gauge line to ease transit across the border - this option was accepted. Design of the new line was done by CBSiPBK (''Central Bureau for Railway Construction Designs and Studies'') in [[Warsaw]]. Eng. [[Józef Skorupski]] became the general designer. Beside this 21 other design bureaus, 8 geological companies and 3 technical universities took part in the project. The line was opened in 1979 and was used to import iron ore from the USSR, as well as to export coal and sulphur from Poland. After the fall of communism and the economic changes of 1989 traffic on the line has much diminished. At present various schemes are being tried to increase its profitability. [[Image:LHS ST44 Sedziszow.JPG|thumb|300px|right|An [[M62 locomotive|ST44]] on the Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line in [[Sędziszów]].]] ==Resource== *{{pl icon}} [http://www.pkp-lhs.pl PKP LHS company official website] URL accessed at [[February 7]] [[2006]] *{{pl icon}} [http://www.lhs.pl LHS fan website] URL accessed at [[February 7]] [[2006]] <br> [[Category:Polskie Koleje Państwowe]] [[Category:Railway lines in Poland]] {{Poland-rail-stub}} [[cs:Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa]] [[nl:Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa]] [[pl:Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa]] [[ru:Польская ширококолейная металургическая линия]]