Train connection from Görlitz to Karpacz: The new route to the Giant Mountains!

Train connection from Görlitz to Karpacz: The new route to the Giant Mountains!

A big step for tourism and mobility in Lower Silesia: On Sunday, June 18, 2025, the Polish railway line “Giant Mountains” between Jelenia Góra and Karpacz was put back into operation after 25 years. The route, which measures 16.4 km in length, allows travelers to get from Jelenia Góra to Karpacz in just 18 to 24 minutes. This will significantly improve the connection from Görlitz to Karpacz by expanding the existing line D62 to Jelenia Góra, operated in cooperation with Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD). The travel time from Görlitz to Karpacz is now around 2¼ hours, including a change in Jelenia Góra. Departures from Görlitz take place every two hours, which significantly increases the accessibility of the region. If you are interested in a family trip, you can take the Euro-Neisse ticket to Karpacz, valid from Bischofswerda in the ZVON tariff area. Alternatively, the Germany ticket is available, which is valid until Jelenia Góra, where a connecting ticket to Karpacz can be purchased.

The railway line, which has now been put back into operation, is the second mountain route in Lower Silesia to be reactivated, following the reopening of the railway line to Swieradów Zdrój in December 2023. The return of local rail passenger transport to the region is part of a larger plan that aims to reactivate over a dozen railway lines in the coming years, which should not only increase tourism, but also the quality of life of the local population. Almost 62 million Polish złoty (equivalent to around 14.53 million euros) were invested in the reactivation of the “Krkonoše Railway” over the past three years. The route, which originally opened on June 29, 1895, had been closed to passenger traffic since 2000.

Investments in rail infrastructure

However, investments in rail infrastructure in Lower Silesia are not limited to the “Krkonoše Railway”. According to reports from lok-report.de, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA (PKP PLK) recently signed three contracts with the Marshal's Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. These contracts are part of the government's Kolej Plus program, which aims to improve local and regional railway infrastructure. The estimated investments amount to approximately 800 million Polish złoty (around 170 million euros) and are intended in particular to increase the economic development of the regions and the quality of life of the people.

Of particular note is the restoration of rail traffic in cities such as Bogatynia and Złotoryja, which have not experienced rail traffic for over 20 years. The connecting connections from Środa Śląska to Wrocław are also to be improved, while new stops and modernized train stations are being built in the affected regions. An important project, for example, is the single-track line between Bogatynia and Zgorzelec, which is being expanded to around 30 km and should enable speeds of up to 120 km/h. The travel time between Bogatynia and Zgorzelec will now only be around 47 minutes.

A destination for tourists

Karpacz, as an important tourist magnet, offers numerous attractions such as the impressive wooden church Wang and the Lomnitz dam. The location at the foot of Sněžka, the highest peak in the Giant Mountains at 1,602 meters, attracts many visitors every year. The expansion of rail connections is therefore not just an infrastructural project, but also a step to revitalize the tourism sector in the region and promote sustainable travel options. The commissioning of the “Krkonoše Railway” will not only benefit travelers from the surrounding area, but is also a reason to discover Karpacz and the picturesque surroundings. Visitors from Germany can easily travel by train and enjoy the natural beauty of the region.