Starting 2016, Poland’s infrastructure manager PKP PLK received billions of euros under Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to modernise its railway network. To that end, the company has signed contracts for 21 projects with a total value of more than EUR 4 billion.
Currently, the company implements 17 rail modernisation projects that will allow shorter and safety travels. Within the two CEF calls, Poland received EUR 2.63 billion for 17 projects that have a total value of EUR 3.3 billion. The projects include the modernisation of 790 km that should be completed by 2020. The average CEF co-financing is 70 per cent.
With a total value of EUR 240.8 million, the projects started in Krakow region received an European co-financing of almost EUR 194.5 million and they will be completed by 2021. The projects involve the modernisation of Krakow Glowny Towarowy –. Rudzic railway line, including the communication system, modern stations and stops, with two new stations (Kraków Grzegórzki and Kraków Złocień) that will provide connections to other railway routes and public transport. More efficient train travel will be ensured by 50 km of new tracks and 200 turnouts. There will be 22 new facilities on the route, and 34 will be modernized. Two modern local control centers will supervise the security and good organisation of traffic. The modernized section of Kraków Główny Towarowy – Rudzice is a key element of the southern part of the E30 line on Katowice – Kraków – Tarnów – Rzeszów – Medyka route. Also the section Rudzice – Kościelniki on 95 line, modernised under CEF financing, will be the best alternative to freight traffic, providing the opportunity to develop Krakow agglomeration railway network.
Regarding the railway connection from Krakow to Poland, the total value of the projects is EUR 410.2 million, with a EU funding of 324.3 million. The projects are carried out from 2016 and they will be completed in 2020. The railway communication in Małopolska Voivodeship (southern Poland, including Krakow) will be improved by modernisation works on the E30 Zabrze – Katowice – Kraków line. The CEF is co-financing the modernisation works on the E30 railway line on the Jaworzno Szczakowa – Krakow Glowny Towarowy section (52 km) as well as signalling works on the section Sosnowiec Jzor -Jaworzno Szczakowa – Krakow Glowny Towarowy (58 km). Heavy trains will be able to travel, and modern local control centers in Jaworzno Szczakowa, Trzebinia and at the Kraków-Mydlniki station will ensure efficient traffic management. In total, there will be 9 rebuilt and 19 newly built platforms with small architecture, adapted to support people with reduced mobility.
The total value of projects concerning the Kraków railway junction is EUR 651 million, for which, the CEF offers a co-financing of 85 per cent.
We remind you that under the CEF third call, other new railway projects will be implemented with the EU co-financing. Thus, PKP Polish Railway Lines signed the financing agreement for four projects with a total value of EUR 816 million.
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