PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK) has announced a tender for the construction of a new railway line in Małopolska, between Podłęże and Gdów, two towns located 17 km apart. The project, estimated at PLN 2.3 billion (EUR 546.6 million), is expected to be completed by 2029.
The project includes the construction of 34 new railway bridges and viaducts, a 900-meter-long tunnel, and 33 grade-separated intersections.
“We are preparing further tenders for this project. We plan to launch all the proceedings by the end of this year. We will travel on the new route between Kraków, Nowy Sącz, and Zakopane in five years,” said Marcin Mochocki, Member of the Management Board of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.
The winner of the tender will have until mid-2029 to complete the investment. After the works are completed, a double-track, electrified railway line will be constructed, allowing passenger trains to travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h, and freight trains at up to 120 km/h.
The residents of Gdów will benefit from a fast and reliable connection to Kraków, with a journey time of less than 30 minutes once the new tracks on the Podłęże – Gdów section are completed.
The construction of the new railway route will provide greater opportunities for the development of the transport system. In addition to the station in Gdów, PLK will also build a new Podłęże Bałachówka station, as well as stops in Zagórze near Niepołomice and Wiatowice. The platforms will be fully adapted to the needs of people with limited mobility, thanks to underground passages and grade-separated intersections equipped with elevators.
“The new railway line from Podłęże to the south of Małopolska will not only be of key importance for the region, but also of strategic value for the entire country. There can be no development of Poland without the development of infrastructure,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
For safety reasons, the railway line has been designed with all intersections with roads being two-level. The new section will connect with the existing E30 main railway line (Kraków – Rzeszów) between the Węgrzce Wielkie stop and Podłęże station. The tracks will be built above the A4 motorway, connecting with both the railway line towards Kraków Główny and Nowa Huta via a system of bridges and viaducts. Towards Gdów, the tracks will follow a route involving numerous engineering structures. The investment will also include a two-track railway tunnel, and a new railway station in Gdów has been planned near Marszowice. The platforms will be located beneath the existing road, which will be raised for the project and connected to the station.
“Thanks to the Podłęże – Piekiełko investment, we will increase the competitiveness of this region in Małopolska. We are focusing on rail, and on other parts of our country that require the construction of new rail lines. We are also implementing a project to build high-speed rail. All these investments will have a positive impact on the economic development of our country,” said Minister of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak.
The construction of the new line to Małopolska is the largest investment by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe in the south of the country. It will improve transport connections, shorten journeys to Zakopane and Nowy Sącz, and facilitate the transport of goods to and from Slovakia.
The construction of the Podłęże – Podłęże Bałachówka and Podłęże – Gdów railway lines is part of the “Podłęże-Piekiełko” project, the largest investment by PLK in southern Poland. Currently, construction work is underway on four sections of this investment, and contractors are building new bridges, viaducts, stations, and stops in towns across Małopolska. Near Limanowa, preparations are underway to drill the longest railway tunnel in Poland, which will shorten train journeys to Nowy Sącz. Tendering procedures are also underway for two other sections of this line (Rabka Zaryte – Mszana Dolna – Fornale and Szczyrzyc – Tymbark). The investment includes the modernization and electrification of the 75 km Chabówka – Nowy Sącz route and the construction of a 58 km new line, ultimately connecting Podłęże with Tymbark and Mszana Dolna.
The global project will facilitate transportation between Kraków and the Polish Highlands, the country’s southernmost region, and Sądecczyzna. The fastest trains will cover the Kraków – Nowy Sącz route in about 60 minutes, and the journey from Kraków to Zakopane will take about 90 minutes. Some parts of this investment are financed under Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The modernization and construction of these rail lines aim to create alternative rail connections along the north-south axis of Europe, improving the rail freight transport network.
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