The road to Passchendaele

Panel “The Road to Passchendaele” In an era of industrial progress, a railway connection between Ypres and Roeselare was established in the mid-19th century. From 1864, hundreds of men worked for four years for a meager wage on this 'line 64'. Significant cuts and rises were made in the rolling landscape to realize the railway line. There are several stops planned along the route, including here in Zonnebeke and between Passendale and Moorslede. At both locations, a stately station building will be constructed. During WWI, the railway is particularly important for German troops. It supplies materials from Roeselare towards the front lines for Ypres. During the Third Battle of Ypres, the front line painfully moves over the railway line towards Passendale. For the Australians, it is their ‘Road to Passchendaele’. It is the only passable road in a completely devastated muddy landscape. This is vital during the Battle of Broodseinde on October 4, 1917. On that day, Australians take over all the terrain between the station and Tyne Cot. After the war, the railway proves to be the best option for quickly reaching the devastated areas. Residents, workers, and tons of materials are transported en masse. Ultimately, passenger traffic is discontinued in 1932, and no trains run from 1970 onwards. The tracks are dismantled in 1977. Although there is no longer any railway traffic, there are still notable relics of line 64 present in the landscape. The large-scale works that tamed the valleys and ridges are still visible today. Just like the rebuilt station, which stands next to it. Today, the 'Stroroute', a recently renovated provincial cycling path that leads all the way to Roeselare, departs from here.

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