The Polish rail infrastructure manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, is implementing five work contracts and two documentation contracts for the modernisation of Central Railway Line (Centralna Magistrala Kolejowa – CMK).
The value of the modernisation of CMK, implemented from budget and EU funds as part of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Plan (KPO), is approximately PLN 1.8 billion (EUR 419.6 million).
The key project on the Central Railway Line is the construction of a level 2 ETCS system on the 210-km Korytów – Zawiercie rail section, worth PLN 361 million (EUR 84.15 million). ETCS is a modern railway traffic control system that continuously supervises the driver’s driving, monitoring the permissible speed and stopping places. Communication between the train and the trackside system is carried out by radio using the railway telecommunications network. Its implementation will contribute to increasing the safety of railway traffic and saving energy by improving the capacity and smoothness of train traffic.
The works will include, among others the installation of new computer devices securing railway traffic, including automatic block signalling, which will ensure the safety of a larger number of trains on a given route at the same time. The station devices will be adapted to work with the ETCS level 2 system. The local control centre (LCS) in Idzikowice (district of Gmina Wilków, in Opole Voivodeship) will supervise the movement of trains and the operation of devices on the line from Korytowo to Zawiercie. The new devices will ensure the required level of safety for high-speed trains running at speeds of up to 250 km/h.
At the same time, works worth PLN 305 million (EUR 71 million) are nearing completion, the aim of which is to adapt the CMK to allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 250 km/h. The tracks between Psary and Zawiercie are being replaced, the crushed stone ballast is being replenished, the tracks are being reinforced and the traction network is being adjusted. The work will last until the mid-2024, and the certification process of the infrastructure subsystem will be completed in 2025.
Currently, the Knapówka station is being modernised with work including the replacement of 5 turnouts for high-speed trains, construction of a new signal box, reconstruction of railway traffic control devices. The value of the contract is PLN 38 million (EUR 8.8 million). The planned completion date of the reconstruction is the first quarter of 2025.
Modern railway traffic control is also being built at the Zawiercie station. The installation of computer devices will ensure the safe operation of trains and support the daily work of traffic controllers. Railway workers will direct traffic from the new signal building. Additionally, under the contract, 10 turnouts will be replaced, as well as 2 km of tracks and 10 km of traction network. The works worth PLN 96 million (EUR 22.4 million) will increase the comfort of service for passengers. On the rebuilt platform No. 2, among others, will be built waiting rooms with benches for passengers. The effects will be achieved in the fourth quarter of this year.
Moreover, geotechnical research will be completed this year along with verification of track bed reinforcements along the entire CMK route and the design of the reconstruction of the Psary station. The work is carried out as part of a larger project called “Modernisation of railway line No. 4 – Central Railway Line, stage II.” Financing for the investment is provided from budget funds under the National Railway Programme.
Adapting the CMK to a speed of up to 250 km/h is also implemented under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Plan (KPO). As part of the project for approximately PLN 195 million (EUR 45.4 million), two tasks are planned to be carried out in 2023 – 2026. The first one concerns the grinding of rails on tracks 1 and 2 and turnouts on the Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Zawiercie section. The work to improve the track parameters will be completed in 2024.
The implementation of the second package will begin in the second half of 2024. In January a tender has been announced, which covers the design and construction of technical infrastructure elements along railway line No. 4, including the reconstruction of drainage, construction of acoustic screens, strengthening of railway embankments, and installation of animal deterrent devices. The estimated value is PLN 157 million (EUR 36.6 million) and the works are expected to be completed in 2026.
To deliver faster journeys on the CMK, PKP PLK has already modernised 51 structures as part of the National Railway Programme, including bridges, culverts, viaducts and passages under the tracks. Four road and rail crossings were replaced with grade-separated intersections.Stations were rebuilt in Idzikowice, Opoczno Płd., Olszamowice, Włoszczowa Północ. A branch in Pilichowice was established. The traction network was replaced on the approximately 40 km long line from Idzikowice to Olszamowice.
Until the ETCS level 2 system is launched, the ETCS level 1 system will be deactivated. This will result in changes in train traffic, from March 2024 on the northern section (from Grodzisk Mazowiecki to Idzikowice), and on the southern section (from Włoszczowa Północ to Zawiercie) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
After completing all the works launching the ERTMS/ETCS level 2 system, completing the certification process and obtaining permission to operate the entire CMK line, it will be possible to run trains at speeds of up to 250 km/h. The first trains using the ERTMS/ETCS level 2 system on CMK will run as planned in the 2025/2026 timetable.
The Central Railway Line provides connections between Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice and Wrocław and it is also important in regional traffic for inhabitants of the Masovian, Łódź, Świętokrzyskie and Silesian voivodeships.
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