Polish rail infrastructure manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK), will launch in September the work to implement the Katowice rail expansion project, which is the largest rail investment in the history of the Silesian Voivodeship.
The Katowice rail junction programme covers the replacement of 130 km of tracks and 175 km of traction network, the construction of a Regional Control Centre in Katowice and the reconstruction of over 150 engineering structures, including railway and road viaducts and bridges.
The project involves the reconstruction of the rail infrastructure, switches and four viaducts as well as the construction of new stops along Katowice Szopienice Południowe – Katowice Piotrowice route. In the first phase, the works will include the reconstruction of tracks at Zawodzie, Brynów and Ligota stations in Katowice. PKP PLK will install switches and adapt the tracks and traction network to the needs of the investment – this will enable the work to be carried out and train traffic to be maintained.
The reconstruction of the road viaduct at Bagienna Street where a second structure will also be built with works scheduled to start at the beginning of September.
The investment in the Będzin – Katowice Piotrowice rail section will completely change rail transport in the region. Its key assumption is to separate regional traffic from long-distance traffic through the construction of the second track between Będzin and Katowice. As a result, the capacity of rail traffic in the Silesian Voivodeship will increase for both passenger and freight enabling more trains to run on the route.
Passengers will gain better access to rail services through the construction of five new stops and the comfort of rail travel in the region will be improved by the modernisation of four existing stations and two stops (Katowice Szopienice Południowe, Katowice Brynów). PLK will rebuild the infrastructure at all of the stations and stops, and at the Sosnowiec and Katowice Ligota stations and the Katowice Szopienice Południowe stop an additional platform will be built at each station. All of them will be adapted to serve passengers with limited mobility, including ramps or lifts that will provide convenient and safe access to them. In addition, guide paths for the blind and visually impaired on non-slip surfaces will be also installed. The platforms will be equipped with new shelters, benches, and lighting and clear passenger information will be installed.
After the Katowice rail expansion and modernisation project is completed, passenger trains will run at up to 160 km/h.
The reconstruction of the Katowice junction is part of a large investment carried out from Będzin to Zebrzydowice and to the border with the Czech Republic. Advanced work is being carried out on the Będzin – Katowice Szopienice Południowe and Tychy – Goczałkowice railway lines. Work is also being carried out between Zabrzeg and Zebrzydowice.
The modernisation of the E 65 railway line on the Będzin – Katowice Piotrowice, Tychy – Wisła bridge (Goczałkowice) and Zabrzeg – Zebrzydowice sections will last four years.
Under the modernisation of E65 mainline, recently, Torpol selected Alstom to modernise the railway traffic control system in Katowice area.
In February 2021, PKP Polish Railway Lines awarded Schuessler-Plan Inżynierzy the contract to develop the feasibility study for Katowice rail expansion and modernisation project.
The project has a value of PLN 7 billion (EUR 1.6 billion) and is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility. The development of Katowice rail junction will enable better services and increased capacity and traffic.
The project covers the area of the Silesian Voivodeship and the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie agglomeration. The works will be carried out on the sections Będzin – Katowice Szopienice Południowe – Katowice Piotrowice, Tychy – Gopałkowice and Zabrzeg – Zebrzydowice. This is the largest-ever railway investment in the region, implemented by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.
A total of 13 new platforms will be built and 35 will be rebuilt and all of them will be adapted to the needs of people with limited mobility. Access to them will be provided by built ramps or elevators and for blind and visually impaired people, guiding paths on non-slip surfaces will be installed.
For this purpose, an additional pair of tracks will be laid on the Będzin – Katowice – Szopienice Południowe – Katowice Piotrowice route. In total, it will be 40 km of new tracks, thanks to which the capacity of railway traffic in Silesia will significantly increase. Additionally, on all sections, over 280 km of tracks and 350 km of traction network will be replaced.
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