The reconstruction the Tarnowskie Góry – Siewierz rail line is progressing according to the schedule to create the Katowice air rail connection.
The 30 km rail line has been closed and Polish rail infrastructure manager PLK is revitalising the line which will also be electrified and extended covering a 48 km railway to allow the connection to the airport. The line will allow passenger trains to run at 140 km/h and freight trains at up to 80 km/h. The investment includes 59 engineering structures and 38 rail-road crossings.
An important element of the investment is the Pyrzowice Lotnisko station in the vicinity of Katowice Airport which has two platforms and an underpass to allow passengers the access the airport. The station will have three new tracks.
Platforms at the Siewierz station have also already been built while works continue to build new platforms at Miasteczko Śląskie Centrum and Mierzęcice. A local control centre is being established in Siewierz, from which the officers will control the traffic along the entire line.
A third platform was built at the Zawiercie station, which will be connected to the existing underpass while passengers with reduced mobility will have easy access using the lifts. The station will be equipped with passenger information and monitoring systems.
New railway viaducts have been already built crossing the DW 908 and DW 913 roads under which a bicycle path is constructed. A similar structure will be constructed on the A1 motorway.
“The investment is implemented under the National Railway Programme using European funds and will allow for an effective combination of rail and air transport.
The new connection will increase the access to railways in the region. Better communication is also boost for the economic development of the region,” Andrzej Bittel, secretary of state at the Ministry of Infrastructure said.
The contractor is currently laying the tracks and is constructing collision-free intersections along the section.
In November, rail freight traffic will be restored to service two sidings at the Siewierz station from the side of Tarnowskie Góry.
This will allow the front of works to be moved to the Siewierz – Zawiercie section.
“The implementation of the project will increase access to rail and its use in the agglomeration. The connection of the airport with the cities in the region will be significantly improved. The project is also important for the development of efficient freight transport,” Arnold Bresch, member of the Management Board of PKP PLK said.
Constructing the new line, people from Tarnowskie Góry or Zawiercie will have increased access to the Katowice airport with an estimated journey of 20 minutes.
The project to build Katowice air rail connection is financed by the European Union through the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme. PLN 660 million (EUR 138.5 million) is the total value of the project which obrained a European co-financing of PLN 500 million (EUR 105 million). The project will be completed by the end of 2023.
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