Warsaw–Kalisz Railway

Unlike the earlier Warsaw–Vienna railway the line to Kalisz was built to the Russian broad gauge 1,524 mm (5 ft) to facilitate Russian military transports and limit the potential for interoperability with the European rail network.

In 1910, German government built another line, from Oleśnica, via Odolanów, to Ostrów Wielkopolski, which shortened the rail distance between Wrocław and Kalisz.

In 1914 following the start of World War I it was converted to standard gauge by the advancing German forces.

In 1918, the line was taken over by the newly independent Second Polish Republic, and until 1922, it served as the main connection between Warsaw and Poznań.

However, its importance decreased after construction of a shorter Warsaw - Poznań route, via Kutno, and Konin.