The historic Polanica Zdrój railway station

Model by Atlas 3D – photogrammetry in Poland

Polanica-Zdrój Railway Station – History and Present Day

The railway station in Polanica-Zdrój was opened on November 15, 1890, as part of the Prussian railway line between Kłodzko and Szczytna. A few years later, the line was extended to Kudowa-Zdrój, opening up new development opportunities for the entire Kłodzko Valley. Between 1914 and 1918, the station underwent significant expansion – freight tracks were added, along with a weighbridge, loading ramp, and extended platforms, which grew from their original 50 meters to about 250 meters to accommodate the increasing number of spa visitors.

After World War II, the station was briefly renamed Wrześniów, but in 1946, the name Polanica-Zdrój was restored. The station played a key role in local transport, handling both passenger and freight traffic. For many years, it featured mechanical semaphore signals – now a true rarity – making it a unique station on the railway map of Lower Silesia.

Today, Polanica-Zdrój station remains an important stop on regional rail routes. It has three main tracks (two of which are in use), two platforms, and modernized infrastructure. In 2013, the tracks were renewed, the platforms rebuilt, new shelters installed, and the station was adapted to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The station building still functions as a waiting room, although the ticket office has long been closed. Train operations are still overseen by a signal controller, but the freight area has been permanently shut down.

Polanica-Zdrój – Spa Town and Urban Development

The first recorded mention of the settlement dates back to 1347, when it was a small village named Heyde, located at the edge of the forest. For centuries, Polanica was an agricultural village until the 19th century, when healing mineral springs were discovered. In 1828, the first wooden bathhouses and a mineral water pump room were established. In the second half of the 19th century, spa infrastructure began to grow: sanatoriums, a spa park, a new pump room, and even a theatre. The breakthrough moment came in 1890 – the arrival of the railway and construction of the station gave a strong boost to tourism and turned Polanica into one of the most important spa towns in Lower Silesia.

It was the railway that played a crucial role in transforming Polanica-Zdrój from a small village into a popular health resort. It made travel easy and accessible for spa guests from cities like Wrocław, Berlin, or Prague. The station and the town developed side by side, feeding into each other – transport supported healthcare, healthcare attracted people, and people drove the need for better infrastructure.

Photogrammetric Model of the Station

The 3D model of the Polanica-Zdrój station accurately presents the architecture and spatial layout of the railway facility. Visible are details of the historic semaphore signals, platform roofs, track layout, and the distinctive form of the main station building. The model was created using a DJI Matrice 4E drone and about 700 photos at 20 MP resolution. The version presented here has been simplified to approximately 6 million triangles from the original 360 million, in order to ensure smooth online presentation.