After 90 years of operation, the 17 km tram line that connected the third largest Polish city with the suburbs of Konstantynów and Lutomiersk stopped operating – maybe even forever. The tram network of Lodz has so far been the longest meter gauge network in the world with a total length of 124 km.
Tram line 43, inaugurated in 1929, was one of several suburban lines of the Łódź, or Lodz, tram. In addition to the cities’ vast tram network, there used to be a total of six land lines. However, lines 42 and 44 were already liquidated during communist times. Lines 41 (Lodz – Pabianice), 43 (Lodz – Konstantynów), 45 (Lodz – Zgierz) and 46 (Lodz – Zgierz – Ozorków) survived the fall of the iron curtain. In order to facilitate the financing and operation of the remaining lines, two seperate operating companies were founded in 1994: MKT (Międzygminna Komunikacja Tramwajowa) and the TP (Tramwaje Podmiejskie).
For decades, the suburban tram lines were operated successfully despite the limited financial situation of the served municipalities and at the two transport companies. TP had taken over some former Bielefeld GT6 trams from the municipal transport company MPK Lodz. Those were operated alongside the six-axle Konstal 803N trams, dating from 1973/74. The MKT operated a fleet which uniquely consisted in Kostal 803N trams which were partly modernized between 1999 and 2000. In 2007 MKT also purchased second hand trams from Germany and Austria, including GT6 trams from Innsbruck (Lohner, ex Bielefeld) and Ludwigshafen as well as GT8 trams from Mannheim / RNV, Freiburg and Innsbruck (ex Bielefeld and ex Hagen with an ex Bielefeld center section).
One of the former Bielefeld GT6, taken over second hand in 1990, seen here in 2008 on the now closed tram line 43 between Lutomiersk and Konstantynéw. At that point in time the 1957 built car was already 51 years old at the time one of the oldest tramcars in operation in Poland I Photo: Stefan von Mach
Six-axle Konstal 803N of the operator TP which was liquidated in 2012 in front of the depot in Brus I Photo: Stefan von Mach
Modernised Konstal 803N of the suburban tram operator MKT at the city limits between Lodz and Zgierz – the line was shut down in February 2018 I Photo: Stefan von Mach
In 2006, MKT took over several second hand vehicles from Germany and Austria, including four GT8s from Freiburg / Breisgau – here seen in the depot Helenówek next to a modernized 803N I Photo: Stefan von Mach
On 1 April 2012, the MPK took over the operation of the four remaining suburban trams. Consequently, MKT and TP were liquidated. While in recent years the tram infrastructure in the city center has been widely modernised with the help of EU funds, the tracks of the suburban routes were rather neglected. Logically, this resulted in a reduction of operational speed. Only one section of line 43 in Konstantynow has been modernised a few years ago.
On 3 February 2018, lines 45 and 46 stopped operating – since then the 22 km track is disused. The reason for this was the poor condition of the infrastructure. Since there is a bus replacement service, called Z45 and Z46. Although Zgierz and Ozorków were still interested in the rehabilitation of their tram lines, funding was missing. However, there are plans to modernize the 3.1 km section from Lodz Helenówek to Zgierz and put it back into operation in the near future.
GT8, purchased second hand from Freiburg, seen here in March 2012, shortly before the takeover of the interurban tram line 46 to Ozorków by the municipal operator MPK I Photo: Stefan von Mach
Until the end of the suburban tram line, the then MKT operating a mixed fleet of Polish, Austrian and German vehicles. On the left a GT8 from Innsbruck of the Stubaitalbahn (ex Hagen with Bielefeld center section), to the right a Bombardier Cityrunner / Flexity Outlook of the municipal transport operator MPK I Photo: Stefan von Mach
A year later, unfortunately, it was decided to shut down line 43 for the same reasons – track condition and lack of funds. Although both municipalities, Konstantynów and Lutomiersk, still have a great interest in continuing the tram operation. However, both can not fund the necessary investment. Despite the poor track condition and relatively long travel times compared to car traffic, ridership on line 43 was always relatively high. Lutomiersk has ca. 8,000 inhabitants, in Konstantynow there are about half as many. Konstantynów is trying to reinstate tram operation as soon as possible. It remains to be seen if the necessary funds can be put together with the city of Lodz and possible EU financing. Until then, new bus lines are connecting Konstantynów and Lutomiersk to the tram network. From the city-side tram terminus Zdrowie the bus is running via Kazimierz to Konstantynow – in 17 minutes instead of previously 30 minutes by tram. It takes 43 minutes to get to Lutomiersk.
The old tram depot in Brus, which was used as a tram and bus museum since 2012, has lost track access due to the setting. Whether and when the collection will be connected to the tram network again, is not known. Brus is located only 2.1 km outside the city limits in Zdrowie and it can be assumed that a solution can be found here in the medium term.
After the shut-down of line 43 the only remaining the suburban tram is line 41 to Pabianice in the southwest of the city. With more than 66,000 inhabitants in Pabianice, the passenger volume is also significantly larger. The whole route will be modernized later this year, meaning that its’ preservation is assured for the long-term.
Historic tramcar type 803N, built in 1973 by Konstal, during one of the “farewell” trips on the line 43
“Farewell” trip on 2/3/2019 with a modernized 803N, Konstal-built tram, at the terminus Północna, next to a modernised 805N pair Photo: Stefan von Mach
GT8N ex Mannheim / RNV in front of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on renovated tracks in the city center of Łódź. The MPK took over the tram alongside other GT8N’s in 2012 from the MKT I Photo: Stefan von Mach
Intermediate station Konstantynów of line 43. It is planned to renew the tracks of line 43 and to take it back into operation until here I Photo: Stefan von Mach
The Łódź tram fan club (Klub Miłośników Starych Tramwajów) and the VDVA (Association of German Transport Amateurs) organised several charter trips on line 43 and on other Łódź tram lines as part of a “farewell” event with various types of historical rolling stock. For the last commercial tram service during the night of March 2nd, an 8-axle GT8N had to be used exceptionally due to the high number of passengers wanting to take the “last tram”. There was a quite melancholic farewell mood. Passengers, tram enthusiasts and local residents took the opportunity to drive one more time with their beloved “Tramwaj”.
The last tram service in Lutomiersk during the night from 2 to 3 March 2019 I Photo: Stefan von Mach
The Tramwaje Podmiesjkie operated the suburban tram line 43/ 43bis from 1994 to 2012, after being replaced by the municipal transport company MPK I Photo: Stefan von Mach
