Średzka Kolej Powiatowa (Środa Narrow-Gauge Railway)

The Środa County Railway (Średzka Kolej Powiatowa; Środa is pronounced "SHROH-dah") is a heritage narrow-gauge line running about 9 miles between Środa Wielkopolska and Zaniemyśl, roughly 22 miles southeast of Poznań in western Poland. On many days a vintage Px48 steam locomotive hauls vintage coaches through the farmland of Greater Poland. It is one of the region's best family day trips by rail in season, but trains run only on selected days, so check the calendar first.

History: a Prussian branch line

The line owes its existence to a Prussian local railways act of 1892. Construction began in 1898 on the initiative of local landowners, including the Mycielski family, when this area was part of the Prussian province of Posen; in German it was the Schrodaer Kreisbahn. A standard-gauge spur ran 7 miles from today's Poznań Wschód station to Kobylepole, where freight was transferred to the narrow gauge. By 1902 the full 59 km (37-mile) narrow-gauge line from Kobylepole through Środa to Zaniemyśl was complete, originally built to 1,000 mm gauge.

After World War II the railway passed to Polish State Railways (PKP) in 1949 and was regauged to 750 mm in 1952–1954. Passenger service toward Poznań ended in 1968, and PKP pulled out of the remaining Środa–Zaniemyśl section in 2001. The county took over the line, and since October 2015 it has been run by a volunteer society, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Kolejki Średzkiej "Bana". About 25,000 passengers rode it in 2024.

Locomotives and route

The roster includes two Px48 steam locomotives, Px48-1756 (built 1951) and Px48-1920 (1955, overhauled in 2021), plus two diesels. Trains leave Środa Wielkopolska Miasto station, next to the town's sugar factory, and cross open fields to Zaniemyśl, with a stop at Annopole. Dogs ride free, and bikes travel in the baggage car.

Schedule (as of October 2026)

The 2026 summer season is over. For the rest of the year the operator plans only occasional trains, announced in its news section, and track renovation may cause disruptions in October and November. In the 2026 season, trains ran on Sundays and May 1–2, adding Saturdays and holidays in summer and Wednesdays in May–June. Departures from Środa were at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., and from Zaniemyśl at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (plus 7:10 p.m. in summer). Spring trains were all steam-hauled; in summer the first two runs used steam and the last a diesel. The engine can change at short notice. Expect the 2027 timetable in spring.

Tickets

• Środa–Zaniemyśl: PLN 30 one way, PLN 40 round trip.
• Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children): PLN 85 / PLN 115.
• Children from age 4 and school students: PLN 18.90 / PLN 25.20; under-4s ride free.
• Bike PLN 5; dogs free.

Buy tickets at the Środa Miasto office (card or cash) or from the conductor at other stops; boarding without a ticket at a station with an open office costs a PLN 5 surcharge. The website and staff communicate mainly in Polish.

How to get there

Środa Miasto station is at ul. Niedziałkowskiego 25, a 10–15 minute walk from the mainline Środa Wielkopolska station, which has regional trains from Poznań. Poznań has an international airport and fast trains from Berlin and Warsaw. Drivers should leave national road 11 for road 432. Bus 560 runs from Poznań (Rondo Rataje) via Kórnik to Zaniemyśl, so you can ride the train one way and return by bus.

Is it worth visiting?

For steam fans and families, yes: few places near a major Polish city offer a regular steam-hauled narrow-gauge ride. Zaniemyśl sits on Lake Raczyńskie, good for a walk before the return train.