Border Crossings: Belarus - Poland
Note that there is either a one hour or two hour time difference between Belarus and Poland because Belarus does not use Daylight Saving Time.
(Vaŭkavysk -) Bierastavica/Berestovitsa (Бераставіца/Берестовица) BČ - Zubki Białostockie PKP (- Białystok)
[D] Line closed. Broad and standard gauges crossed the border on one interlaced track. It is not known when a passenger service, if any, was withdrawn. Freight traffic was withdrawn from 1 January 1998 and the internal PKP passenger service to Zubki Białostockie ended on 1 April 2000.
Brest BČ - Terespol PKP
There are two routes crossing the border as identified below. As at December 2020 there are plans to build a third bridge over the River Border [which is assumed will be parallel to one already existing]. The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure is believed to be negotiating a Polish-Belarusian construction agreement to be financed from EU funds for investments in a non-EU country.
(Brest Centraĺny-) Brest Paŭnočny/Brest-Severny (Брэст Паўночны/Брест-Северный) BČ - Terespol PKP
[D] Freight only. Both gauges cross the border, but with interlaced track over the single track bridge spanning the river Bug, which forms the border. Standard gauge track extends in a loop via Brest Paŭnočny to Brest Centraĺny station and connecting with the crossing below.
Brest Centraĺny/Brest-Tsentral'ny (Брэст Цэнтральны/Брест-Центральный) BČ - Terespol PKP
[E] Both gauges cross the border, but with interlaced track over the single track bridge spanning the river Bug which forms the border. BČ works all broad gauge freights to the substantial yards at Małaszewicze, west of Terespol. A Polish private operator's diesel locomotives have been observed crossing the border, demonstrating that there are also standard gauge freight facilities in Belarus. Traffic across this border has increased significantly in recent years owing to freight from the Far East. There are therefore plans to increase capacity at Małaszewicze to handle 40-50 trains per day instead of the current maximum of 14.
Regarding passenger services, a gauge-changer was installed at Brest Tsentral'ny early in 2015 for use by the Moskva - Berlin Talgo service, which started operation on 17 December 2016. Other services were thought to be worked only by PKP to/from Brest. However, a BČ M62 and coaches formed an afternoon departure from Terespol in November 2014. Later sightings were the morning service to Brest in August 2017 comprising a PKP electric loco hauling BČ coaches, and the same combination for the 07:00 from Brest in June 2019. The compilers would therefore appreciate reports of any cross border passenger services, including details of traction, stock, and on which gauge. The 2018-2019 BČ timetable showed local Brest <> Terespol services as operated by BČ.
(Brest -) Vysoka-Litoŭsk/Vysoko-Litovsk (Высока-Літоўск/Высоко-Литовск) BČ - Czeremcha PKP
[D] Belarusian Railway advised of plans to reopen this crossing to freight by the fourth quarter of 2019 as an alternative route for increasing container traffic between China and Europe due to capacity issues at Terespol. PKP spent 30 million PLN upgrading the track to the border but as at November 2020 the line has not re-opened.
Earlier press articles confirmed both freight and cross border passenger services had been withdrawn at the December 2011 Timetable change and a Polish railtour ran to the Border from Czeremcha in April 2013 clearing the tracks of snow confirming it was not un use. Previously one through PKP pair of trains to Brest had been replaced in December 2002 by two pairs and a change of trains from PKP to BČ at Vysoka-Litoŭsk because of problems with smugglers, even though the route has 1435mm gauge tracks to Brest.
(Vaŭkavysk -) Svislač/Svisloch' (Свіслач/Свислочь) BČ - Cisowka PKP (- Hajnówka)
[D] Freight Only. Separate parallel Broad and Standard Gauge tracks cross the border, the Kolej Atlas showing Standard Gauge tracks reaching Svislač BČ and Broad Gauge leading to Transfer yards west of Siemianówka PKP. Current status of the Standard Gauge is unknown but there have been recent announcements of works to improve the cross border tracks and interchange facilities in this area.
(Hrodna -) Bruzhi/Bruzgi (Брузгі/Брузги) BČ - Kuźnica Białostocka PKP (- Sokółka)
[E/D] This route has both 1435 mm (electrified) and 1520 mm (unelectrified) gauge tracks between Grodno and Sokółka. Cross border freight traffic is either regauged at Kuźnica Białostocka or transferred at Sokółka.
PKP PR Kuźnica Białostocka <> Hrodna local trains were discontinued at the December 2015 timetable change as they were to be replaced by PKP IC services between Warszawa and Hrodna. However, these did not commence until 4 September 2016 with a Kraków <> Hrodna portion of the Krakow <> Suwalki train owing to funding issues.
