Trams in Ozorków

Trams in Ozorków
Ozorków tram terminus
Operation
LocaleOzorków, Poland
Open1922
Lines1
Operator(s)MPK Łódź
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Electrification600 V DC overhead
Stops6
Overview
Łódź Zgierska
Zgierz
Łódź
Zgierz
Chełmy
Adelmówek
Kurak
Zgierz pl. Kilińskiego
Śniechowskiego
Stary Rynek
al. Armii Krajowej
Łaźnia
Musierowicza
Przedmieście
Proboszczewice I
Proboszczewice II
Zgierz
gmina Zgierz
Lućmierz
Emilia (Rosanów)
Emilia (Kania Góra)
Słowik (Szkoła)
Słowik
gmina Zgierz
gmina Ozorków
Aleksandria
gmina Ozorków
Ozorków
Tartak
Ozorków Las
Cmentarz
Wyszyńskiego
Nowy Rynek
Cegielniana
  single-track sections are marked with thin line

Trams in Ozorków are operated by MPK Łódź Sp. z o.o. They consist of a single line and are connected, through Zgierz, to the Łódź tram network, forming its part.

Line

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 46  (Łódź) – (Zgierz) – Zgierska – Wyszyńskiego – Konstytucji 3 Maja – Cegielniana

History

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The Łódź–Ozorków line was opened in 1922 as an extension to the already existing Łódź–Zgierz. It was built and operated by Łódzkie Wąskotorowe Elektryczne Koleje Dojazdowe (Łódź Narrow-gauge Electric Commuter Railways). Initially it was operated by steam, electrification was completed in 1926. The line was technically compatible with the Łódź trams network (same gauge and electrification system), allowing interrunning, but the two were not connected, passengers had to change at interchange stops located near the city limits.[1]

In 1948, both the companies owning and operating the city and suburban tram networks were nationalised and Łódź became responsible for the public tram transport in the area.[1]

In the early 1970s, the last dedicated suburban rolling stock was withdrawn from service, since then the line was worked by the tramcars also used on the city network.[2]

Political and economic changes after 1989 meant that a new approach to financing and running the public communication was necessary. The city became responsible for the public transport within the city limits, whereas the surrounding cities were expected to finance, and reach an agreement with the operator about, running the tram communication in their territories. Two cities – Ozorków and Zgierz – together with Łódź founded Międzygminna Komunikacja Tramwajowa Spółka z o.o. (Inter-gmina Tram Communication Ltd.) that became the operator of the services on the line.[2] On 1 April 2012, MPK Łódź took over running the services.

The condition of the line became progressively worse to the point that it was necessary to suspend the running of trams. On 3 February 2018, the trams stopped running.[3]

Gmina Zgierz, one of two rural local authorities that own the middle part of the line, has found it difficult to come up with funding for the works on its section.[4] Nevertheless, Ozorków is committed to perform repair works on its territory and to restore tram services, provided that the other sections of the line, connecting it to Łódź tram network, are also restored.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Raczyński 2004, p. 30.
  2. ^ a b Raczyński 2004, p. 31.
  3. ^ Fiszer, Kasper (27 January 2018). "Ozorków: Ostatni tydzień ruchu tramwajowego" [Ozorków: Last week of trams running]. Transport Publiczny (in Polish).
  4. ^ Fiszer, Kasper (19 January 2021). "Gmina Zgierz: Perspektywy dla tramwaju 46 są mgliste" [Gmina Zgierz: Tram route 46 perspectives are foggy]. Transport Publiczny (in Polish).
  5. ^ Fiszer, Kasper (1 October 2021). "Ozorków: Chcemy modernizacji linii 46, ale potrzeba porozumienia samorządów" [Ozorków: We want to modernise line 46 but local authorities must reach agreement]. Transport Publiczny (in Polish).
  • Raczyński, Jan (2004). "Najdłuższe linie tramwajowe w Polsce" [The longest tram lines in Poland] (PDF). TTS Technika Transportu Szynowego (in Polish). 11 (4). Instytut Naukowo-Wydawniczy "TTS" Sp. z o.o.: 30–34. ISSN 1232-3829 – via BazTech Polish Technical Periodicals Database.