Improvement of railway links between main Polish cities and neighbouring countries

Report:

Year registered: 2020

Type:

Transport

Status:Activity Reported

3SI countries proposing the project:

Poland

Participating 3SI countries:

Czechia, Poland, Slovakia

Partner countries:

Germany, Ukraine

* not part of the 3Seas Initiative

Main objectives:

Improvement of rail connectivity for Poland, neighbouring countries and other CEE countries (possible extension to Romania).

The goal of the project is to create a system of interregional and international passenger railway connections, which have been missing for decades (the current transportation demand has evolved since the time when the majority of the lines were constructed).

Bridging the missing links will improve the attractiveness of rail transport and, consequently, increase its market share. Since the majority of the new lines will be accessible for intermodal freight trains, the project will positively influence both passenger and freight railway transport.

A high-speed backbone for the Polish railway system will be established with the main node located between Warsaw and Łódź.

The cross-border sections will significantly improve overall cohesion and integration of Poland’s railway transportation system with the systems of neighbouring countries of the 3SI region.

The Project will also advance military mobility capacity.

Short description:

Construction of new railway lines forming parts of following corridors:

• Corridor 1. Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Płock – Włocławek – Toruń – Bydgoszcz- Nakło nad Notecią – Toruń – Piła – Okonek – Kołobrzeg/Koszalin, Nakło nad Notecią – Złotów – Okonek, Grochowalsk – Grudziądz – Gdańsk – Gdynia – Słupsk/Bydgoszcz – Łąg Południowy – Kościerzyna – Gdynia, Łąg Południowy – Tczew

• Corridor 3. Warsaw – Białystok – Ełk -Suwałki – state border, Białystok – Kuźnica Białostocka, Tłuszcz – Ostrołęka – Łomża – Pisz - Giżycko.

• Corridor 5. Warsaw – Lublin – Trawniki – Chełm – state border, Trawniki – Zamość – Tomaszów Lubelski – Bełżec – state border.

• Corridor 6. Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Radom – Stalowa Wola – Rzeszów – Jasło/Krosno/Brzozów - Sanok

• Corridor 7. Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Idzikowice - Małopolska Silesian Node/Katowice – Czechowicze-Dziedzice – Jastrzębie Zdrój – state border, Katowice – Małopolska Silesian Node – Kraków – Szczyrzyc – Nowy Sącz, Szczyrzyc – Chrabówka – Zakopane, Idzikowice – Opoczno – Końskie – Kielce – Tarnów – Nowy Sącz – Muszyna – state border, Końskie – Skarżysko Kamienna

• Corridor 9. Warsaw – Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Sieradz – Kępno – Wrocław – Świdnica – Wałbrzych – state border, Sieradz – Kalisz – Poznań – Szczecin, Kalisz – Ostrów Wielkopolski – Leszno – Głogów – Zielona Góra, Poznań – Zbąszyn – Rzepin – granica państwa, Zbąszyn – Gorzów Wielkopolski

• Corridor 12. Stalowa Wola – Lublin – Milanów – Biała Podlaska – Fronołów - Białystok

Contact persons:

Mr. Tomasz Kulicki, Minister’s Counselor, Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Polish Government for Centralny Port Komunikacyjny, tel: +48 734218856, e-mail: tomasz.kulicki@mfipr.gov.pl

Calendar of implementation:

2024
Planning
The planned lines are included in the:
• “Sustainable Transport Development Strategy by 2030” (Resolution of the Council of Ministers, published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland – the "Polish Monitor" 2019, item 1054);
• “The plan of the state's intentions and investment priorities related to the construction of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) – in the perspective covering the Sustainable Transport Development Strategy by 2030” (Resolution of the Council of Ministers, published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland on 4 May, 2022);
• Multi-annual programme "Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Investment Programme. Stage II. 2024-2030" (Resolution of the Council of Ministers, published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland – the "Polish Monitor" 2023, item 1258).
• Strategic Localization Study for CPK Investments” and “Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment” which have been completed and adopted by the Government Plenipotentiary for Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.
2024-2030
Design
The following timeline is based on the newest multi-annual programme "Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Investment Programme. Stage II. 2024-2030".
Since the newly adopted multi-annual CPK programme specifies investments, actions and financing for the period 2024-2030 the year 2030 has been adopted as a cut-off date to present calendar of implementation below.
2024-2030
Design
Corridor No. 3.
Continuation of pre-design works. After completing the main part of pre-design works, the decision on environmental conditions should be obtained. Next step will be detailed design with submitting of an building permit application (for the section Grudziądz-Gdańsk the decision to determine the location of the railway line), preceded by the acquisition of property rights for the investment.
2024-2030
Planning
Corridor No. 5.
Pre-design works will be carried out regarding the basic scope and the high-speed connection with Ukraine, including the extension of the section to the state border and a new line to Lviv. On their basis, the investment option will be selected, followed by an application for a decision on environmental conditions for the Polish section.
2024-2030
Planning
Corridor No. 6.
Section CPK railway node-Grójec-Warka: continuation of pre-design works, including selection of the investment option. After completing the main part of pre-design works, the decision on environmental conditions should be obtained.
Other sections: continuation of pre-design works. After completing the main part of pre-design works, the decision on environmental conditions should be obtained. Next step will be detailed design together with the acquisition of property rights for the investment. Submitting of an building permit application is foreseen.
2024-2030
Planning
Corridor No. 7.
Continuation of pre-design works. After completing the main part of pre-design works, the decision on environmental conditions should be obtained. Next step will be detailed design together with the acquisition of property rights for the investment and awarding the construction contract.
2024-2030
Planning
Corridor No. 9.
Section Warszawa Zachodnia – CPK – Łódź Niciarnia without CPK railway node: Continuation of preparation of the construction documentation. Acquisition of property rights for the investment and construction works completed with commissioning of the railway line.
Section CPK railway node: Preparation of the construction documentation. Acquisition of the property rights for the investment and construction works completed with commissioning of the railway line (package I phase 1 and 2)
Section tunnel for the long-distance trains in Łódź: Construction works completed with commissioning of the railway line.
Sections Łódź-Sieradz Północny(Y), Sieradz Północny-Kępno, Kępno-Czernica Wrocławska(Y), Czernica Wrocławska-Wrocław Główny(Y): continuation of preparation of the construction documentation. Acquisition of property rights for the investment, submitting of an building permit application, awarding the construction contract.
Section Żarów-Świdnica-Wałbrzych-state border with Czech Republic: Continuation of pre-design works, selection of the investment option, application for a decision on environmental conditions.
Sections Sieradz-Kalisz-Pleszew(Y), Pleszew-Poznań(Y): Continuation of pre-design works, application for a decision on environmental conditions, preparation of the construction documentation, acquisition of property rights for the investment and submitting of an building permit application.
2030+
Planning
Corridor No. 12.
Preparatory works for the investments within the Corridor No. 12 are expected to begin after 2030.

Budget:

Centralny Port Komunikacyjny has secured so far 24,12 mln EUR from CEF 2014-2020 and 63,64 mln EUR from CEF 2021-2027 (CEF 2.0)..

€14B1%
secured

Financing sources:

CEF

National funding

EBRD

3SIIF

Other sources

Other EU funding

EIB

Multi-annual programme "Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Investment Programme. Stage II. 2024-2030", which provides financing for preparatory works for the years 2024-2030, was adopted by the Council of Ministers (published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland – the "Polish Monitor" 2023, item 1258).

Financing from public funds and EU funds is foreseen.

Coherence with EU Priorities and Policies

The project includes construction of core passenger TEN-T sections (bridging missing links: Warsaw - CPK - Łódź - Wrocław/Poznań high speed line), and extended core TEN-T lines (cross-border connection between Katowice and Ostrava with possible extension towards Hungary; also the Wrocław - Prague line).

The project contributes to the implementation of the following EU priorities and policy targets presented in the “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future” (SSMS):

• To achieve the goal of reducing at least by 55% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050, improvements are needed in railway transport quality. Improvements planned in the Project (upgrades as well as new infrastructure development) will lead to increased competitiveness of the rail transport, and consequent growth of its market share.

• The SSMS sets the following milestones:

o scheduled collective travel under 500 km should be carbon-neutral by 2030 within the EU,

o traffic on high-speed rail will double by 2030 and triple by 2050 (compared to 2015),

o a multimodal Trans-European Transport Network equipped for sustainable and smart transport with high-speed connectivity will be operational by 2030 for the core network and by 2050 for the comprehensive network.

and stresses that:

the high-speed rail projects should be completed without delay and cross-border projects will be needed to integrate all Member States into the European rail system of the future.

In line with these statements, High-Speed links (including cross-border sections) are planned within the Project. Warsaw – Łódź – Poznań/Wrocław lines are included in the core network, two cross-border sections – in the comprehensive network.

• The Project serves the goal of creating an efficient core network for intercity travel.

The new lines foreseen within the project will provide good conditions for intercity connections both within Poland and cross-border connections, also supporting effects of other 3SI projects (for example by improving connections from Rail Baltica towards the Czech Republic, Slovakia and further south). The newly constructed lines will be electrified and equipped with ERTMS, in compliance with the requirements of the TSIs. Therefore, requirements of passenger TEN-T network will be satisfied. Additionally, accessibility for freight trains (including intermodal) at minimum speed of 100 km/h and length of 740 m is initially foreseen (economic viability of such parameters for individual sections will be analysed during further preparatory stages).

The implementation of the Project will be consistent with the EU law and principles. Procurement will be performed in accordance with the binding regulations (currently “Public Procurement Law”).

The environmental policy will be applied, particularly during preparatory steps of the project – EIA, design documentation; assessment of potential impacts of the Project on inhabitants, fauna, flora, soil and rock environment, water etc.; possible risks from climate change will be assessed, too; mitigation measures will be implemented.

The Project improves environmental sustainability of the transport system through expected reduction of road transport share.

After completion of the construction phase, the network will be managed by a certified infrastructure manager and open for non-discriminatory access with regards to binding regulations, including Directive 2012/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area.

Relevance of the project for the region

Whether innovative, safe and sustainable new technologies are to be used

Description of entities involved