Ełk Narrow Gauge Railway

The Ełk Narrow Gauge Railway (Ełk is pronounced roughly "ewk") is a heritage line that takes visitors from the Masurian town of Ełk to Sypitki through forests, villages and lakeshores. It is the only active narrow gauge railway in Warmia-Masuria, run with a diesel locomotive, closed carriages and open summer cars. The round trip is 30 km and takes about three hours. If you are searching for things to do in Ełk with kids, or a rainy-day alternative to hiking and sailing, combine the ride with the station museum.

Where it is

Ełk (German name Lyck) is a town of the Masurian Lake District in north-eastern Poland. The nearest major airports are Warsaw and Gdańsk, several hours' drive away (approximate). From Warsaw it is roughly four hours by car. The railway starts at the station on ul. Wąski Tor in the town.

A short history

The railway was built from 1910, and the Ełk-Borzymy section opened in 1913. The company Lycker Kleinbahn AG continued the work until 1918. For decades it carried passengers and freight; since 2002 it has run only for tourists. It was listed as a monument in 1991. Since 1 March 2014 it has been managed by the Historical Museum in Ełk, and since September 2018 the station building has housed a museum.

The Ełk-Sypitki-Ełk route

The train runs through a landscape between lakes Selmęt Wielki and Regielskie. The full trip takes about 3 hours: 45 minutes each way plus a 1.5-hour stop at Sypitki, where a bonfire is lit. The stop has shelters, benches, toilets (including accessible ones) and a playground. Bring your own food, because the food outlet there runs only in season, from May to September. There are 16 level crossings on the route.

What to see

• The Lyd1 locomotive and the green and yellow carriages at the station.
• Open summer carriages with wooden benches, best for views.
• The museum in the station building, with free exhibitions.
• The Sypitki stop with a bonfire and activities.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

The 2026 season ran from May to the end of September and ended on 27 September with Railwayman's Day. Check the museum's website for 2027 dates. In 2026 a full ticket cost 46 PLN, a reduced ticket 23 PLN, and children under 3 travelled free. Trains ran on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10:00 and on weekends at 10:00 and 13:30 in July and August, and mostly on weekends at 10:00 in May, June and September. Buy tickets at the museum cash desk or online at bilety.muzeum.elk.pl; seats are not numbered and numbers are limited. The exhibitions in the station building are open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30-16:30, free of charge; from 6 to 16 October 2026 the halls are closed for the installation of a new exhibition, which opens on 17 October. Contact: ul. Wąski Tor 1, 19-300 Ełk, phone +48 534 535 004, email zamowienia@muzeum.elk.pl. The ticket page does not describe rules for bikes, dogs or strollers, or parking, so ask before you go. We could not confirm English signs on the train.

Getting there

The station is on ul. Wąski Tor in Ełk. The town has rail and road links to other cities in the region. We did not check current train and bus timetables, so look them up before you travel.

Nearby

In Ełk you can combine the ride with a lakeside walk and the museum, and the surrounding Masurian lakes have boat services in season.