Starý Smokovec railway station
Encyclopedia
Starý Smokovec railway station is a junction station
in the High Tatras
. It serves the ski, tourist and health resort of Starý Smokovec
, in the Prešov Region
, northeastern Slovakia
.
Opened in 1908, the station is the focal point of the metre gauge
Tatra Electric Railway
(TEŽ). It forms the junction between the TEŽ's Poprad-Tatry–Štrbské Pleso main line and its only other line, the Starý Smokovec–Tatranská Lomnica branch.
The station is currently owned by Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR); train services are operated by Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko
(ZSSK).
, a conglomerate of separate and different settlements (originally separate villages). The only common feature of the Vysoké Tatry settlements is that they are the main tourist resorts in the Slovak High Tatras, connected through a common railway network, the TEŽ. After the country's capital, Vysoké Tatry is Slovakia's major tourist destination.
and Starý Smokovec.
On 16 December 1911, Starý Smokovec became a temporary switchback station, with the opening of the 6 km (3.7 mi) branch between Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica
.
The station was finally transformed into a junction station on 13 August 1912, when the rest of the TEŽ's main line was completed between Starý Smokovec and Štrbské Pleso
.
is an attractive three storey building of half timbered design. It houses information and ticketing facilities, and a restaurant.
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
in the High Tatras
High Tatras
High Tatras or High Tatra are a mountain range on the borders between Slovakia and Poland. They are a part of the Tatra Mountains...
. It serves the ski, tourist and health resort of Starý Smokovec
Starý Smokovec
Starý Smokovec is a part of the town of Vysoké Tatry in northern Slovakia in the Tatras. Its name is pronounced approximately "Star-EE Smoke-oh-vets", meaning "Old Smokovec".Starý Smokovec is a popular resort for skiing and hiking...
, in the Prešov Region
Prešov Region
The Prešov Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 13 districts.-Geography:It is located in north-eastern Slovakia and has an area of 8,975 km². The region has diverse types of landscapes occurring in Slovakia, but mostly highlands and hilly lands dominate the...
, northeastern Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
.
Opened in 1908, the station is the focal point of the metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
Tatra Electric Railway
Tatra Electric Railway
The Tatra Electric Railway , colloquially Tatra Railway, is an electrified single track narrow gauge railway in the Slovak part of the Tatra mountains...
(TEŽ). It forms the junction between the TEŽ's Poprad-Tatry–Štrbské Pleso main line and its only other line, the Starý Smokovec–Tatranská Lomnica branch.
The station is currently owned by Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR); train services are operated by Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko
Železnicná spolocnost Slovensko
Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko a.s. is Slovak state-owned passenger trains operated company, based in Bratislava.In 2002 a company Železničná spoločnosť was established as a successor of personal and cargo transport part of the Železnice Slovenskej republiky. In 2005 this new company was further...
(ZSSK).
Location
Starý Smokovec railway station is right in the heart of Starý Smokovec, which forms part of the town of Vysoké TatryVysoké Tatry (town)
Vysoké Tatry , informally Mesto Vysoké Tatry , is a town at the feet of the Slovak part of High Tatras in Slovakia including all the major resorts in that region...
, a conglomerate of separate and different settlements (originally separate villages). The only common feature of the Vysoké Tatry settlements is that they are the main tourist resorts in the Slovak High Tatras, connected through a common railway network, the TEŽ. After the country's capital, Vysoké Tatry is Slovakia's major tourist destination.
History
The station was opened on , together with the rest of the TEŽ's 19.4 km (12.1 mi) first stage, between Poprad-TatryPoprad-Tatry railway station
Poprad-Tatry railway station is a break-of-gauge junction station serving the city of Poprad, in the Prešov Region, northeastern Slovakia.Opened in 1871, the station forms part of the standard gauge Košice–Bohumín Railway, and is the junction between that line and the Poprad-Tatry–Plaveč railway,...
and Starý Smokovec.
On 16 December 1911, Starý Smokovec became a temporary switchback station, with the opening of the 6 km (3.7 mi) branch between Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica
Tatranská Lomnica railway station
Tatranská Lomnica railway station is a break-of-gauge junction station in the High Tatras. It serves the settlement of Tatranská Lomnica, in the Prešov Region, northeastern Slovakia....
.
The station was finally transformed into a junction station on 13 August 1912, when the rest of the TEŽ's main line was completed between Starý Smokovec and Štrbské Pleso
Štrbské Pleso railway station
Štrbské Pleso railway station is a junction station in the High Tatras. It serves the settlement of Štrbské Pleso, which is part of the village of Štrba, in the Prešov Region, northeastern Slovakia....
.
Facilities
The station buildingStation building
A station building, also known as a head house, is the main building of a passenger train station. It is typically used principally to provide services to passengers.A station building is not to be confused with the station itself...
is an attractive three storey building of half timbered design. It houses information and ticketing facilities, and a restaurant.
Train services
Starý Smokovec railway station is the junction of the following High Tatras railway lines:- 183 Poprad-Tatry–Štrbské Pleso (the TEŽ's main line)
- 184 Starý Smokovec–Tatranská Lomnica
See also
- History of rail transport in SlovakiaHistory of rail transport in SlovakiaThe history of rail transport in Slovakia began in November 1836, at the founding meeting of the participating companies for the construction of a horse railway from Bratislava to Trnava...
- Rail transport in SlovakiaRail transport in SlovakiaRail transport in Slovakia began on 21 September 1840, with the opening of the first line from Bratislava to Svätý Jur and on 20 August 1848 ....