Bocznice kolejowe w systemie transportowym – przykład województwa dolnośląskiego
Railway sidings in the transport system – the example of the Lower Silesian Province

Summary/Abstract: Rail freight transport plays an important role in the transport of goods, both domestically and internationally. The importance of bulk freight transport (including container transport) is growing in the context of Poland’s transit position on international transport corridors. An important element of the entire freight transport system is also the additional infrastructure in the form of railway sidings. In the case of many industrial plants (including those related to mining), the vast majority of products are transported by rail. Therefore, it is important to assess the condition and functioning of railway sidings. The study discusses the functioning of railway sidings in the railway transport system in Lower Silesia. The Lower Silesian Province is characterised, among other things, by one of the highest densities of railway infrastructure and numerous plants involved in the extraction of rock raw materials, which are transported by rail. In recent years, there has been an upward trend in the use of railways for freight transport. The study attempts to inventory active and inactive railway sidings, which included the categorisation of this type of additional infrastructure, taking into account its function and the type of goods transported. In principle, the time frame of the study refers to the current situation (2025), but in some cases the authors drew attention to the use of sidings in previous years. With regard to selected examples, good and bad practices in the use of sidings were presented. Particular attention was paid to this type of infrastructure that has been built in recent years. The inventory of railway sidings was carried out on the basis of available cartographic materials, official materials from PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (Polish Railway Lines) and, in selected cases field surveys.

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