PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) awarded Budimex the contract for the modernisation of railway No. 201 that will deliver better rail services in Pomerania. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
PLN 1.3 billion (EUR 305.2 million) is the value of the contract covering the modernisation of the Kościerzyna – Somonino and Somonino – Kartuzy sections on the mainline that connects the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship with Pomerania.
The project covers modernisation and double-tracking works for the 27 km Kościerzyna – Somonino section (on line No.201) to increase transport capacity. In addition, the modernisation of 8 km Somonino – Kartuzy section (on line No. 214) will enable the return of trains to this route and a direct rail connection between Kościerzyna and Kartuzy. The two projects include electrification, works for 120 bridges, viaducts and culverts, as well as the reconstruction of the rail traffic control system, including the construction of Kościerzyna local control centre.
The train stations and stops on line No. 201 will be rebuilt and platforms will be adapted to passengers with limited mobility, and on the line No. 214 a new stop (Somonino Bernardyno stop) will be constructed, which will provide better access to the railway services.
The construction of a second track will improve the line’s capacity, which will allow more passenger and freight trains to run on it. The investment is also of great importance for improving the conditions for freight transport to the port in Gdynia, which will increase its potential resulting into the development of the Tri-City economy and the entire region. The modernisation of the line no. 201 is also of great importance in the context of the electrified PKM route (Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna) and the expansion of the Gdańsk Airport.
After completing all the work and obtaining the necessary permits, passenger trains on line no. 201 will travel at a speed of up to 140 km/h from currently up to 120 km/h, on line no. 214 at a speed of up to 120 km/h, and freight trains at 100 km/h, from currently up to 80 km/h. Depending on section, the speed of passenger trains is currently 30-120 km/h, and freight trains 30-90 km/h.
The works are carried out under the “Works on the section Kościerzyna – Gdynia” project estimated at EUR 1.2 billion. The modernisation of line No. 201 will provide “an alternative connection between Bydgoszcz and the Tri-City, which is important for the efficient freight transport on the north-south route of the country and will allow passenger carriers to prepare new, attractive connections,” Piotr Wyborski, the CEO of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe said.
This project is another important step towards the modernisation of the rail route connecting Bydgoszcz and Tri-City. Works within the project have been carried out since 2021. This year, PLK completed the works for Kartuzy bypass and the modernisation of the line no. 229 Glincz – Kartuzy section.
The main works on line no. 201 will be carried out divided into 7 contracts. In September this year, PLK signed a contract for the implementation of works on the Somonino – Gdańsk Osowa section, along with the electrification of line no. 229 on the Glincz – Kartuzy section, and in November a tender procedure was launched for the modernisation of the Maksymilianowo station in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Completion of works on the Kościerzyna – Somonino – Gdańsk Osowa route is planned for the end of 2027, and on the remaining sections Gdańsk Osowa – Gdynia Główna and Kościerzyna – Maksymilianowo under 4 contracts, which are expected to be implemented from 2025 until 2030.
The entire investment project will improve passenger connections between the Tri-City and Kashubia with the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It will enable operators to prepare a better offer for long-distance, regional and agglomeration connections and it will contribute to better connections between railways and other modes of transport.
The project, that is supported through national resources, will increase the access and quality of rail services in Pomerania opening new possibilities for travelling by train in the region.
With this project, PKP PLK signed contracts worth PLN 17 billion (EUR 4 billion) in 2024. “2024 was a very good year for the Polish railways,” Dariusz Klimczak, Pland’s Minister of Infrastructure said, underlining that “an even larger amount, as much as PLN 17.5 billion (EUR 4.1 billion), is the value of tenders announced this year. The modernisation of line no. 201 is important not only from the point of view of increasing the attractiveness of passenger connections in Pomerania, but also due to ensuring efficient and safe transport of goods by rail to the port in Gdynia,” the minister said.
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