Tczew railway bridge

The Tczew Railway Bridge, built in 1891, is currently the longest railway bridge in Poland, stretching 1,030 meters and connecting Warsaw with Gdańsk. Its structure, designed by Johann Schwedler, takes the form of a steel truss. The bridge played a crucial role in railway transport, and its strategic location made it a target during World War II; it was blown up by Polish sappers on September 1, 1939, to prevent enemy passage. The bridge was rebuilt in the 1940s, with permanent use restored by the end of that period in 1958, when it was modernized into a double-track structure. Traffic on the bridge consists mainly of passenger trains running between Gdynia and Warsaw, as well as regional connections. The bridge has become not only a central transport hub but also a symbol of Tczew, especially as it is located near a road bridge with distinctive towers. In 1983, the electrification of the Malbork–Tczew section was completed, and in 2008, the bridge ranked highly among Polish bridges in terms of span length. Interestingly, the bridge in Gdańsk's Stogi district, although also a railway bridge, is currently used only for freight traffic. The Tczew Bridge is a quintessential example of 19th-century engineering thought, and its history is closely tied to Poland's turbulent past, making it not only an engineering marvel but also a significant landmark in Polish culture and history.