The European Investment Bank has under appraisal the project to upgrade Gdynia port rail connection with Koscierzyna. EUR 480 million is the bank’s proposed financing with EUR 1.18 billion the total value of the project comprising track duplication, electrification and modernisation of single track lines between Koscierzyna and Gdynia.
The rail project is part of a wider investment programme to modernise the Bydgoszcz Tri-City corridor, facilitate the second electrified rail connection to sea ports in Gdynia, increase the capacity to the Bydgoszcz – Tczew – Gdansk – Gdynia line and bypass the City of Gdansk with freight traffic to the sea port of Gdynia.
The works to extend and electrify the line between Gdynia and Kościerzyna are expected to be completed in 2027. The project is divided into seven sections with works expected to successively begin in 2023-2024 and in 2026 and 2027. The Bydgoszcz – Tri-City corridor project covers the modernisation of 220 km of lines, the construction of 170 km of new tracks, the electrification of 205 km of lines the reconstruction of 48 stations and stops and 282 engineering facilities as well as 54 level crossings.
In August 2019, Polskie Linie Kolejowe Pomeranian Voivodeship and Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway PKM signed an agreement concerning investment cooperation on Gdańsk Wrzeszcz – Stara Piła (Line No.234) and Stara Piła – Glincz (Line No. 229) railway lines to prepare the bypass project enabling the connection with the Line No. 201 Maksymilianowo – Kościerzyna – Gdynia. Under the agreement, PKP PLK was responsible for the modernisation of the two sections, the modernisation of the stations and stops and the reconstruction of the structures along the line, while PKM implemented projects for the reconstruction of a 1.5 km tracks between Gdańsk Kokoszki and Gdańsk Kiełpinek stations. The two sections were operated by only freight trains and after the completion, passenger trains can use the connection.
After the modernisation and construction works, passenger trains on Gdynia – Kościerzyna rail section will run at up to 140 km/h and freight trains, at up to 100 km/h.
The Polish rail infrastructure manager PKP PLK is improving the rail access to the seaports of Gdańsk and Gdynia and is modernising the main transport corridors and expanding the logistics possibilities of the corridors including on the north-south axis, such as Rail Carpatia.
As the result of the wider project, up to 750-metre-long heavier freight trains with an axle load of with an axle load of 22.5 tonnes reach the quays, which can carry more cargoes. Investments ensure efficient and safe delivery and collection of more goods by rail, the most ecological means of transport, which translates into a reduction in the number of trucks on the roads.
In 2022, construction works were completed to improve rail access to the port of Gdańsk.
Almost 70 km of tracks and 221 turnouts were reconstructed. A new traction network and a modern computerised railway traffic control system were built.
In February 2023, the rail infrastructure manager completed the new 600-metre-long viaduct allowing freight train operation on a single track in Gdynia Port station. Works are on schedule to complete the construction of the second track. In total, the viaduct will have four tracks. Works on another 140m viaduct were also completed. The new viaducts will have been designed allow heavier and longer trains (750m) with a 22.5-tonne-axle load improving the capacity of lines leading to the port.
PKP PLK expects to complete the project to increase Gdynia port rail connection and capacity, inthe fourth quarter of this year. So far, 107 km of new tracks, out of 115 km, and 293 turnouts, out of 332 as well as 23 intersections have been built.Since March 2022, train traffic to the port has been conducted from the Gdynia Port local control centre, supported by two new signal boxes.Compared to 2015, the capacity at the Gdańsk Port station is expected to increase more than threefold, and at the Gdynia Port station to increase twice.
The investment to Gdynia port is carried out under the “Improvement of railway access to the seaport in Gdynia” project with a total value of PLN 1.6 billion (EUR 361 million) and 45% is covered by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility. Under the 2015 CEF call, PKP PLK obtained EUR 162.2 million co-financing out of the eligible costs of EUR 190.8 million.
The “Improving rail access to the port of Gdansk”, a EUR 108.5 million CEF grant was provided out of the eligible costs of EUR 132.7 million. the project has been completed at the end of 2022.
The investments for the rail projects at the two ports have a value of about PLN 3 billion (EUR 676.7 million) and are important from the point of view of the entire national economy.
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