PKP PLK restores rail traffic on line 3 after overhead line damage near Swiebodzin

Infrastructure failure on railway line 3

Train traffic was suspended on Friday evening along railway line number 3 in the Lubusz Voivodeship following an infrastructure failure between Toporow and Swiebodzin. The disruption began when an international passenger service en route from Warszawa Wschodnia to Frankfurt suffered damage to its pantograph, simultaneously tearing down section of the overhead traction network. Infrastructure operator PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe immediately halted all train movements on the double-track line to prevent further electrical and structural damage. The incident brought passenger trains to a standstill across this transport corridor connecting central Poland with the German border. Technical crews from both PLK SA and the operating carrier were dispatched to the site to inspect the overhead contact wires and secure the immobilized train.

PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe alerted travelers to the closure through an official post on X on Friday evening.

Attention passengers! Train traffic on railway line number 3 has been suspended on the Toporow-Swiebodzin section. The cause is damage to the overhead contact line and the pantograph on the Warszawa Wschodnia to Frankfurt service. Technical services from PLK SA and the carrier are working on site. Replacement bus transport will be introduced for long-distance and regional trains.

Detours and replacement bus operations

The suspension of rail traffic prompted railway dispatchers to implement contingency measures for passenger transit. Long-distance express services were redirected onto detour routes via adjacent railway lines, allowing intercity travelers to bypass the blocked segment between Toporow and Swiebodzin. For regional rail services and passengers unable to use detour corridors, railway operators organized a fleet of replacement buses across the Lubusz Voivodeship. Travelers faced unexpected vehicle transfers, prolonged journey times, and substantial delays throughout Friday night. The disruption impacted both international passengers traveling westward toward Frankfurt and local commuters moving between towns in western Poland.

Passenger information and travel coordination

Throughout the duration of the line closure, rail authorities advised travelers to monitor digital channels for changes to their itineraries. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe directed passengers to Portal Pasazera, the central online passenger information system, for real-time updates on train locations and schedule modifications. The portal provided details on timetable alterations, bus replacement stop locations, and estimated delay durations for individual services. Local travelers also shared photographs and reports from the scene of the breakdown with television broadcaster TVN24 through its Kontakt24 citizen journalism platform. Railway representatives urged all passengers traveling through the affected region to verify their departures before heading to station platforms.

Overnight repairs and service restoration

Emergency response teams from PLK SA and the train carrier conducted repair operations along the blocked line through Friday night. Technicians focused on repairing the severed overhead catenary wires, re-energizing the electrical traction network, and removing the damaged Warsaw-to-Frankfurt train from the track. Following overnight engineering work and safety checks on Saturday morning, rail authorities confirmed that the electrical infrastructure was restored. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe announced the full resumption of rail traffic on the Toporow to Swiebodzin section on Saturday morning. The reopening enabled carriers to withdraw replacement buses and return long-distance trains to their standard routes along railway line number 3.

PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe confirmed the reopening in an official update on social media on Saturday morning.

Following overnight repairs, train traffic on railway line number 3 has been restored.