Szybka Kolej Regionalna

Szybka Kolej Regionalna (Fast Regional Rail) is a commuter rail system operating since 14 December 2008 in the Katowice urban area, connecting Tychy with Sosnowiec via Katowice, operated by Koleje Śląskie.

Szybka Kolej Regionalna route spans 30.458 km.^[1] It utilizes Tychy–Mysłowice Kosztowy MKSB1 railway, Katowice–Zwardoń railway, and Warszawa Zachodnia–Katowice railway.^[2]

The route includes 13 stops, operates on an hourly clock-face schedule, and offers additional peak-hour services on the shorter Tychy Lodowisko to Katowice route.^[1]

• Sosnowiec Główny
• Katowice Szopienice Południowe
• Katowice Zawodzie
• Katowice
• Katowice Brynów
• Katowice Ligota
• Katowice Piotrowice
• Katowice Podlesie
• Tychy
• Tychy Zachodnie
• Tychy Aleja Bielska
• Tychy Grota-Roweckiego
• Tychy Lodowisko

In addition to the standard Koleje Śląskie fare, Szybka Kolej Regionalna operates under the Orange Tariff. Orange Tariff tickets are valid on trains between Tychy Lodowisko and Katowice Szopienice Południowe, as well as on Metropolitan Transport Authority buses and trolleybuses, but only within the administrative boundaries of Tychy.^[5]

In the 1990s, the rise of individual and bus transport led to a significant decline in passenger numbers on the Tychy to Tychy Miasto route. The route to Katowice via Katowice Murcki was circuitous, further reducing its appeal. Consequently, passenger services on the Tychy to Tychy Miasto line were suspended on 19 February 2001.^[6]

In 2005, the first plans of the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship and the Tychy City Office appeared regarding the creation of a rapid urban rail system connecting Tychy, Katowice, and Sosnowiec.^[7] On 27 July 2006, the Silesian Voivodeship signed an agreement with Stadler Rail for the delivery of four 4-car FLIRTs to serve Szybka Kolej Regionalna.^[8]

On 14 December 2008, Szybka Kolej Regionalna commenced operations between Tychy Miasto and Katowice, serviced by newly acquired FLIRT trains.^[6]

From 13 December 2009, FLIRT trains also partially served the route from Częstochowa to Katowice route.^[9]

On 18 August 2010, a FLIRT EN75-003 train derailed near Niezapominajek Street in Katowice, tilting onto an embankment,^[10] injuring five people and sustaining significant damage.^[11] The damaged train was sent to Switzerland for repairs.^[12] On 12 December 2010, Szybka Kolej Regionalna route was extended to Sosnowiec.^[13]

In early 2011, the voivodeship authorities decided to reassign all FLIRT trains to the Gliwice to Częstochowa route.^[14] On 15 February 2011, Tychy Municipal Transport Company signed a contract with the Transport Construction Enterprise in Kraków to construct the Tychy Aleja Bielska, Tychy Grota-Roweckiego, and Tychy Lodowisko railway stations and modernize Tychy Zachodnie.^[15][16] In August 2011, a strike by Przewozy Regionalne employees led the voivodeship to temporarily abandon plans to transfer Szybka Kolej Regionalna operations to Koleje Śląskie.^[17] On 1 October 2011, FLIRT trains previously used by the Silesian branch of Przewozy Regionalne, including those on Szybka Kolej Regionalna, were transferred to the newly launched Koleje Śląskie.^[18]

On 22 March 2012, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe signed a contract with a consortium of Unitor B and KZA Katowice to revitalize Tychy–Mysłowice Kosztowy MKSB1 railway between Tychy and Górki-Ściernie, excluding stops, which were covered by a separate contract signed the previous year.^[19] On 1 September 2012, three new stops – Tychy Aleja Bielska, Tychy Grota-Roweckiego, and Tychy Lodowisko – were opened, and the route was extended to Tychy Lodowisko.^[20] That same day, some bus services to Katowice operated by the Tychy Municipal Transport Company were discontinued.^[21] From 12 to 14 October 2012, a strike by Silesian branch of Przewozy Regionalne train drivers led to the cancellation of most services,^[22] which were replaced by Koleje Śląskie trains, marking their debut on Szybka Kolej Regionalna route.^[23] For several days afterward, the line was operated by Koleje Śląskie drivers using Przewozy Regionalne rolling stock.^[24][25] On 9 December 2012, Koleje Śląskie fully took over Szybka Kolej Regionalna operations, and the Tychy Miasto railway station was reinstated.^[26] On 18 December 2012, Tychy authorities signed a contract with Aldesa Construcciones to build two Park & Ride parking facilities, each for 352 cars, at the Tychy Lodowisko and Tychy railway stations.^[27][28]

On 1 June 2013, Koleje Śląskie implemented a recovery plan, reducing train services by half. In September 2013, construction began on a bus and trolleybus transfer hub at the Tychy railway station.^[29] On 15 December 2013, operations at Tychy Miasto railway station were discontinued again.^[30]

In January 2015, a Park & Ride parking facility opened at the Tychy railway station.^[31] In July 2015, another Park & Ride facility opened at Tychy Lodowisko.^[3]

• On 25 June 2012, the Transport Construction Enterprise in Kraków received the Third Degree Award in the 2012 Construction of the Year competition for constructing four Tychy Szybka Kolej Regionalna stations.^[32]