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Narrow-gauge railways: a new guide for carriers and infrastructure managers

14.02.2022

What are formal conditions for running narrow-gauge railways? How to obtain a safety attestation and a type approval certificate? How much is will cost? These and many other questions are coved in a new Narrow-gauge railways guide prepared by the Office of Rail Transport. The guide is mainly for private companies and local government which are running narrow-gauge railways.

Narrow-gauge railways are very popular in Poland. Almost every region has a narrow-gauge railway. They are undoubtedly a tourist attraction that allows to travel with a unique, historic rolling stock to places of outstanding natural features, landscapes or historical significance. According to the data gathered by the Office of Rail Transport, in Poland there are about 30 narrow-gauge lines of approx. 400 km length. In 2020 they transported approx. 560 thous. passengers and over 900 thous. in 2019. Most of the narrow-gauge railways carries tourists in the summer, mainly during the holidays.

In the new guide we explain formal conditions which should be met when operating a narrow-gauge railway. You will also find information on safety issues, level crossings and description of the supervision process.

The guide was prepared on the basis of the current version of the Rail Transport Act 2003 and the regulations issued on its basis. You will find information on how to obtain a safety attestation, type approval certificate or how to develop internal regulations, maintenance system documentation and technical regulations of the narrow-gauge railway.

You can find The Narrow Gauge Railways guide on our website in the Studies section.

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