Poland’s railway infrastructure manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK), has launched a tender for the construction of a new line near Krakow, between Kasina Wielka and Szczyrzyc, as well as the Porąbka–Stróża connection. These works form the core of the Podłęże–Piekiełko project.
The investment, estimated by PKP PLK at approximately EUR 442 million (PLN 1.9 billion), is scheduled to take 38 months.
On this section, the new route in the Podłęże area, located south of Kraków, will connect with the modernized Line 104, which follows a new route. This will provide a fast connection between the capital of the Małopolska region (Kraków), Nowy Sącz, and Zakopane.
The new railway line, a complex project
The project for the new line near Kraków involves the construction of 13 km of track in difficult mountainous terrain. On the Fornale–Szczyrzyc and Porąbka–Stróża segments, six tunnels with a total length of over 3.6 km are planned, as well as numerous viaducts and bridges, the highest of which will reach 35 meters above ground level.
The project also includes the construction of the new Kasina Wielka North station, fully adapted for people with reduced mobility, with easy access via elevators and ramps. New road infrastructure is also planned, including viaducts and grade-separated intersections, which will improve local traffic.
The Podłęże–Piekiełko project section is one of the most complex from an engineering standpoint, with its implementation supported by the experience gained in other phases of the investment. The route is essential for creating a new rail connection between Kraków, the Podhale region, and the Sądecczyzna area, significantly reducing travel times in the southern part of the Małopolska region.
The Podłęże–Piekiełko project is currently the largest railway investment in Poland. It includes the modernization and electrification of 75 km of track between Chabówka and Nowy Sącz, as well as the construction of 58 km of new track between Podłęże, Tymbark, and Mszana Dolna. As a result, the journey from Kraków to Nowy Sącz will take approximately 60 minutes, and to Zakopane about 90 minutes. Part of the funding comes from the EU’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO).
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