Very long wait at Zwardoń because the infrequent cross-border shuttle 8km to Skalité in Slovakia doesn’t connect with the trains up from Katowice.
But a local restaurant with a terrace and decent beer, great views and the fresh mountain air make the wait memorable.
Although abandoned shortly after the Chornobyl Disaster in April 1986, there have been plans to reopen the railway link to Slavutych where many of the current workers live. However, the line crosses Belarus territory so I don’t know the current status.
I was asked not to photograph the station buildings and there were unknown people milling about there. It was the only place at Chornobyl I was asked not to photograph, other than the eastern end of the power station offices.
I was told that the railway was not used for evacuation because the station was very close to an area of intense radiation and there was no other easy railway access point to the east before the river. There was (then) no road access to the east side of the river, apparently.
Visited in mid 2019. Apologies for the poor quality of the photos.