Uzhhorod - Košice broad gauge track
Encyclopedia
The Uzhhorod
– Košice
broad gauge
track is a single track
railway mostly in eastern Slovakia
, which is used especially for iron ore transportation from Ukraine
to the steel factory
near Košice.
In the 1960s, after construction of the steel factory in Košice, the import of iron ore to Slovakia rose steeply, and the existing checkpoint in Čierna nad Tisou
couldn't handle this amount anymore, particularly in winter, as Czechoslovakia
and the Soviet Union
had different gauges, meaning that all the transported goods had to be reloaded. It was thus decided to build one track in Czechoslovakia with Soviet technical parameters to ease the transport. Construction works started on November 4, 1965, and the track was opened on May 1, 1966. In 1978, the track was electrified.
The trains are hauled by two electric twin-locomotives, similar to the late versions of PKP:s ET40
but with SA3 coupler
instead of buffers and chain couplings. This is with the exception of westward operation between Trebišov
and Ruskov
where the track elevation is over 15 ‰, and two sets of locos are needed. This portion of the track has the heaviest catenary construction in the EU (2 work cables, 1 fitting cable and 3 additional cables).
This single track line is for freight operation only, but there are some diesel motor cars for railway personnel.
in Austria
. An agreement was signed between the railway operators of Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia in April 2010; they formed a new company, Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft, to develop the railway. The project passed a feasibility study in December 2010. Construction is planned to start in 2013 and operation in 2016. A cost estimate is €4.7bn. An important type of goods will be containers, either between Western Europe and Russia or between Western Europe and China.
Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod or Uzhgorod is a city located in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary. It is the administrative center of the Zakarpattia Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Uzhhorodskyi Raion within the oblast...
– Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
broad gauge
Russian gauge
In railway terminology, Russian gauge refers to railway track with a gauge between 1,520 mm and . In a narrow sense as defined by Russian Railways it refers to gauge....
track is a single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
railway mostly in eastern 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...
, which is used especially for iron ore transportation from Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to the steel factory
U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o.
U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o. is a steel company located in Košice, Slovakia.In November 2000, the ownership of the complete metallurgical operation of former Východoslovenské železiarne Košice was transferred to the United States Steel Corporation....
near Košice.
In the 1960s, after construction of the steel factory in Košice, the import of iron ore to Slovakia rose steeply, and the existing checkpoint in Čierna nad Tisou
Cierna nad Tisou
Čierna nad Tisou is a town and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of extreme south-eastern Slovakia, near the Tisa river.-History:The town and municipality is one of the newest in the Košice Region established in 1828....
couldn't handle this amount anymore, particularly in winter, as Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
had different gauges, meaning that all the transported goods had to be reloaded. It was thus decided to build one track in Czechoslovakia with Soviet technical parameters to ease the transport. Construction works started on November 4, 1965, and the track was opened on May 1, 1966. In 1978, the track was electrified.
The trains are hauled by two electric twin-locomotives, similar to the late versions of PKP:s ET40
PKP class ET40
ET40 is the name for Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo two-unit freight electric locomotive in service of Polish national rail operator, PKP. The locomotive was produced by Škoda Works in the Czechoslovakia.-History:...
but with SA3 coupler
SA3 coupler
The SA3 coupler is a type of railway coupling used mainly, but not exclusively, in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union.Railways in Russia used European buffers and couplings from their inception. These couplings had three main limitations. Firstly the load was limited. Secondly, the...
instead of buffers and chain couplings. This is with the exception of westward operation between Trebišov
Trebišov
Trebišov is a small industrial town in the easternmost part of Slovakia, with a population of around 23,000. The town is an administrative, economic and cultural center with machine and building materials industries.-History:...
and Ruskov
Ruskov
Ruskov is a village and municipality in Košice-okolie District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 223 metres and covers an area of 20.208 km². The municipality has a population of about 1350 people....
where the track elevation is over 15 ‰, and two sets of locos are needed. This portion of the track has the heaviest catenary construction in the EU (2 work cables, 1 fitting cable and 3 additional cables).
This single track line is for freight operation only, but there are some diesel motor cars for railway personnel.
Technical parameters
- Length: 88.051 km (8 km in Ukraine)
- Gauge:
- Maximum allowed speed: from Uzhhorod to MaťovceMatovceMatovce is a village and municipality in Svidník District in the Prešov Region of north-eastern Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 200 metres and covers an area of 3.99 km². It has a population of approximately 131 people....
50 km/h (31 mph), from Maťovce to Haniska 60 km/h (37 mph) - Stations: 2 (MaťovceMatovceMatovce is a village and municipality in Svidník District in the Prešov Region of north-eastern Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 200 metres and covers an area of 3.99 km². It has a population of approximately 131 people....
, Haniska pri Košiciach) - Passing loopPassing loopA passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s: 6 (VojanyVojanyVojany is a village and municipality in Michalovce District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 102 metres and covers an area of 10.923 km². The municipality has a population of about 830 people....
, BudkovceBudkovceBudkovce a village and municipality in Michalovce District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 102 metres and covers an area of 19.836 km².It has a population of about 1500 people.-Government:...
, TrebišovTrebišovTrebišov is a small industrial town in the easternmost part of Slovakia, with a population of around 23,000. The town is an administrative, economic and cultural center with machine and building materials industries.-History:...
, Červený Dvor, SlančíkSlancíkSlančík is a village and municipality in Košice-okolie District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.-History:In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1270 , when it belonged to Slanec Castle...
, HornádHornádHornád or Hernád is a river in eastern Slovakia and north-eastern Hungary.It is a tributary to the river Sajó, which is itself a tributary to the river Tisza. The source of the Hornád is in the Low Tatra mountains under the Kráľova hoľa hill, southwest of Poprad...
) - Depots: 1 (in Haniska)
Extension
There are plans to extend the line 450 km westwards, by building a broad gauge railway all the way to ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. An agreement was signed between the railway operators of Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia in April 2010; they formed a new company, Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft, to develop the railway. The project passed a feasibility study in December 2010. Construction is planned to start in 2013 and operation in 2016. A cost estimate is €4.7bn. An important type of goods will be containers, either between Western Europe and Russia or between Western Europe and China.