The European Investment Bank (EIB) has extended a EUR 175m loan to Polish railway company PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. for the modernisation of over 100 km of railway line within the Rail Baltica project. Thanks to the modernisation of two sections (Sadowne – Czyżew and Czyżew – Bialystok) passengers will gain easy long-distance and inter-regional connections.
The works on the Sadowne – Czyżew and Czyżew – Białystok sections will modernise 106 km of railway line. A new double-track bridge over the Bug River will be constructed and an extra track on the Prostyń Bug – Małkinia section will be added; this will eliminate the only single-track section currently in existence between Warsaw and Białystok and make the entire line between these two cities double-track.
The modernisation of all Rail Baltica sections from Warsaw to Bialystok will allow passenger trains to run at a speed of 160 km/h and shorten the travel time between the two cities from the current 2 hours 26 minutes to less than 2 hours. The project will also make it possible to increase the number of rail connections, improve safety and boost travel comfort – passengers will enjoy comfortable and modern platforms with clear information system and facilities for people with reduced mobility. Passengers will be provided with new underpasses and 16 renovated comfortable stops and stations.
Furthermore, the investment will significantly improve operating conditions for freight railway undertakings. Thanks to the modernisation of the line and the elimination of speed limits, bottlenecks on this part of the TEN-T corridor will be removed and freight trains will run at a speed of 120 km/h.
Share on:
