A MODERN TOWN
From the events of the Royal Free Town of Podgórze 1784–1915

Together with the construction in the years 1850–1856 of the Eastern Railway connecting Kraków with Lwów, the rulers of Podgórze began their attempts to open a railway station. Many years of attempts did not bring the desired results. Attempts were started again in 1872 with the planned Czadca – Żywiec – Sucha – Podgórze line. In connection with the lack of agreement concerning the designation of the station (the railway board proposed a goods hold, however the inhabitants of Podgórze wanted a passenger platform), and finally the resignation of the Austrian rulers from the new investment, construction plans were suspended again. Only the creation of the Galician Transversal Railway with the Oświęcim – Sucha – Podgórze branch brought about their realization. Opened for use on 1 August 1884, the Podgórze station, from 1885 with the name of Podgórze-Płaszów, was located 1.5 km from Podgórze Market Square. In the years 1908–1912, a set of train depots and repair workshops were built.

The distance of the Podgórze station from the town centre represented a significant hindrance for its inhabitants and became the reason for attempts to open a second, closer, station. On 4 October 1885, the Podgórze-Miasto station was opened on the Oświęcim – Płaszów line. The guard's building situated at the level crossing with Kolejowa Street was designated for this purpose. The cost of adapting the building was covered from the town's budget. Because the small station did not meet the expectations of travellers, in 1893 a new significantly larger building was erected.

On 1 January 1886, the Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway began the construction of an alternative rail line, the so-called ring, running along the current Aleje Trzech Wieszczów, Dębnicki Bridge and Konopnicka Street, connecting the Main Station in Kraków with Płaszow and Bonarka. Opened for use on 1 January 1888, it had two so-called junction stations, one being Podgórze-Bonarka, located 1.3 km from Podgórze Market Square on the Oświęcim line.

On 12 May 1910, a railway line connecting Podgórze-Płaszów with the newly-built Podgórze-Wisła station was opened. The investment represented a response to the increasing communication needs of the town with the industrial areas in Zabłocie, where the town slaughterhouse and market, among others, were located. The newly-built goods hold was meant to reduce the burden of the Płaszow station. It was necessary due to the restrictive sanitary regulations concerning the transport of animals for slaughter.