Poland’s national rail operator PKP has launched three rail infrastructure tenders totalling €1.4bn, specialist website Railway Pro reports.
The tenders will make upgrades in the north and south of the country, and carry out a new-build scheme to improve network connectivity.
One modernisation project is for the Pomeranian line between the Baltic port of Gdynia and the town of Lebork. The other is close to the Ukraine border and involves the line running between the towns of Stalowa Wola and Padew.
The new-build scheme will lay track between the villages of Szczyrzyc and Tymbark in the deep south of Poland, near the border with Slovakia.
The northern project is expected to cost €700m, partly funded by the EU. It will involve changes to nine stations to improve access and comfort, and add four to allow more people to benefit from the line. The project will also add an extra track in some parts of the line to increase its passenger and freight capacity.
The work will also include modernisation of electrical traction and tracks and the removal of road crossings.
It is expected that the work will allow passenger trains to run at 160km/h rather than 70km/h. Later upgrades may increase this to 200km/h.
The project is due to be completed by the end of 2029.
The southeastern modernisation scheme will upgrade six stations and build seven, and will also include work to improve access, comfort and capacity. This programme is budgeted at €210m. PKP is hoping to sign a contract in the second quarter of next year and complete work in 2027.
The new-build Szczyrzyc–Tymbark line will connect two other routes, improving travel times for trains passing through Krakow towards Limanowa and Nowy Sacz.
The 8km section of tracks will allow a speed of 160km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains.
The project will involve the excavation of two tunnels with a combined length of 4.8 km, as well as bridges and viaducts. This is expected to cost a total of €467m.
Piotr Wyborski, the president of the management board of PKP, said the three tenders were tasks that would “expand the possibilities of travelling by rail – both long-distance and regional”.
He said: “We focus on investments that will bring tangible effects for passengers and carriers. We are focused on results, and the announced tenders show the strength and good condition of the company.”
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