The Polish rail infrastructure manager PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe signed a contract for construction works covering the second phase of the 100 km Korsze – Ełk railway modernisation project, a PLN 876 million (EUR 190 million) project implemented under the National Reconstruction Programme.
The contract for the modernisation of the 50 km Giżycko – Korsze rail section has been awarded to Torpol which will be also responsible for the reconstruction of nine stations and stops including Sterławki Wielkie, Kętrzyn and Korsze. At these stations, the platforms will be higher to allow passenger to easy get onboard the train while delivering better access for people with limited mobility.
Torpol will replace 50 km of tracks, will renovate and build 84 engineering structures – bridges, viaducts and culverts, and will build a new road viaduct in Sterławki Wielkie. The level of safety at the junction of roads and tracks will increase at 38 modernised rail-road crossings.Thanks to the construction of the traction network and electrification of the line, there will be no need to change locomotives from electric to diesel ones, which will shorten the travel time.
The project is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026.
“Due to the electrification of the line from Ełk through Giżycko to Korsz, the transport capacity will increase allowing more regional and long-distance trains to operate the line,” Ireneusz Merchel, the CEO of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe said.
Since March 2022, electrification works have been carried out on the Ełk – Giżycko section and are focused on the modernisation and the construction of new platforms at Giżycko and the Stare Juchy stations, where currently, earthworks and land strengthening works are being carried out. An underground passage is being built in Giżycko, where reinforcement works are being carried out. The contractor installed almost all the foundations for the ridge over the Łuczański Canal on which the supporting structures of the traction network are built. The work for this section is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Following the modernisation of Korsze – Ełk railway line, travel time from Giżycko to Korsz, both cities in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship will be faster and more efficient and the train journey from Ełk to Olsztyn will be shortened by approximately 50 minutes and will take less than 2 hours. Passenger trains will run twice as fast as currently, from 80 to 160 km/h, and freight trains up to 120 km/h.
“The railway in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship is becoming more and more passenger-friendly. The implemented investments encourage people to choose this means of transport that allows for fast, safe and comfortable commuting to work or school. The inhabitants of the Great Masurian Lakes region deserve environmentally friendly transport, which will be ensured by the electrification of the route from Ełk to Korsze,” Andrzej Bittel, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure said.
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