PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) and PKP Cargo signed a letter of intent under which the independent rail infrastructure manager Cargotor will enter PKP PLK’s umbrella. PKP Cargo has previously signed another agreement to sell Cargotor to PKP PLK.
The acquisition of Cargotor by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe will improve investment processes, harmonise railway infrastructure management standards and improve the transport of goods to the east.
“I predict that the takeover of 100% of the shares of Cargotor by PLK S.A. will create a synergy effect and, consequently, the effect of investment activities and future business goals will be much better,” said Piotr Wyborski, president of the management board of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.
Under the procurement, PKP PLK will take over the management of Małaszewicze Transshipment Area, among others, until the end of this year.
Cargotor is a strategic infrastructure manager in the territory of Poland and was established in 2013 by PKP Cargo for the separation of the functions of the carrier and the railway infrastructure manager, according to an Act from March 2003. In the process of establishing the company, the desired mission of the new entity was defined as the management of railway infrastructure in the form of track systems and railway sidings, as well as making this infrastructure available on commercial terms while maintaining the principles of equality and non-discriminatory conditions for allocating infrastructure capacity to users.
The company manages the Małaszewicze Transshipment Area, which consists of approximately 180 km of tracks with stations at Chotyłów, Małaszewicze, Kobylany, Bór and the areas of Zaborze, Wólka, Podsędków and Raniewo. The company manages 21 dispatching points totalling 180 km of tracks. Cargotor maintains the railway infrastructure, guaranteeing safe railway transport of goods within the area under its management. The technological development of the company is based on the maintenance of infrastructure, which translates into the noticeable improvement of service quality.
Cargotor to develop Małaszewicze terminal
“The unification of infrastructure management in an area so important for rail transport and freight transit on the east-west line, such as Małaszewicze, is of particular importance. Combining the potential of both companies is consistent with our strategic goal, i.e. building synergy and efficiency of both railway companies and the entire railway in Poland,” Alan Beroud, president of the management board of Polskie Koleje Państwowe (parent company of PKP Group) said.
“From the perspective of our company, the transaction will constitute an important element in the ongoing process of improving the organisational structure of the capital group in the PKP Cargo Group,” said the acting President of the Management Board of PKP Cargo Marcin Wojewódka.
Małaszewicze transshipment terminal is an important facility situated on the Rail Freight Corridor 8 at the border between the EU and Belarus. Cargotor is currently developing Małaszewicze Logistics Park, modernising the rail infrastructure and remodeling four railway-road crossings to increase its capacity. Covering the area of 30 km2, Małaszewicze might become the most modern transshipment hub in Europe. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the development and modernisation of Małaszewicze Logistics Park will be entirely financed from public funds, including co-financing from European Union funds. The estimated investment cost is PLN 3.2 billion (EUR 749.7 million). Due to the cross-border nature of the project, Cargotor applied for funding from the CEF 2 fund, which amounts to 50 percent.
The project covers the comprehensive modernisation and expansion of railway infrastructure.
The renovation of the tracks will allow the reception of trains with a length of 1,050 m for the 1,520 mm gauge and 750 m for the 1,435 mm gauge tracks. The speed of trains will also increase from 20 to 40 km/h. The development project targets a capacity of up to 55 pairs of trains on the border with Belarus on a wide track (1520 mm). All this will increase the importance of the Małaszewicze Logistics Park as one of the most important transshipment points in Europe and will also contribute to the increase in revenues of the state treasury and the Polish economy.
The project to develop and modernise the terminal’s area is expected to be completed in 2027-2028.
Malaszewicze Cargo Terminal situated on the Rail Freight Corridor 8, at the border between the EU and Belarus. The terminal will be modernised to become the Polish gateway to the New Silk Road. The project covers the modernisation and expansion of the 1435 mm and 1520 mm tracks as well as the development of modern rail traffic control systems.
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