Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Awards Łódź HSR Tunnel Contract

Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has awarded a significant contract to a PORR-led consortium for constructing a 4.6 km high-speed rail tunnel in Łódź. This project is a pivotal component of Poland’s expanding transportation infrastructure. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Advances High-Speed Rail Initiatives

The Łódź tunnel forms a crucial segment of the Y-shaped high-speed rail line, designed to connect Warsaw, the forthcoming CPK Airport, and Łódź by 2032, with extensions to Wrocław and Poznań by 2035. Trains on this line are expected to reach speeds up to 350 km/h, significantly reducing travel times between major cities.

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The contract, valued at approximately $442 million, encompasses the construction between the Retkinia and Fabryczna chambers, including all necessary infrastructure. The selection criteria prioritized price (70%) and team experience (30%), ensuring both cost-effectiveness and expertise.

Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Enhances Urban Connectivity

This tunnel will be the longest and widest single-bore railway tunnel in Poland, accommodating two tracks for bi-directional travel at speeds up to 160 km/h. Its construction beneath Łódź’s dense urban landscape necessitates stringent safety and engineering standards.

To ensure structural integrity, CPK has commissioned detailed technical inspections of buildings along the tunnel route, with Albraco conducting 70 additional analyses. These assessments will provide diagnostics, safety evaluations, and recommendations for protection or repairs.

Construction preparations are progressing, with Keller Polska reinforcing the foundations of the Łódź Cultural Centre. Budimex is expected to complete the Retkinia launch chamber by May, while work on the Fabryczna reception chamber is underway in two stages.

Unlike the parallel cross-city tunnel by PKP PLK, the CPK tunnel is intended for long-distance and high-speed trains, with stops at Łódź Fabryczna. The tunnel will surface near Retkinia, joining existing Line No. 14 and continuing west toward Sieradz, where it will split toward Poznań and Wrocław.

This investment is part of the trans-European North Sea–Baltic Corridor, a key route within the EU’s core TEN-T network. It not only strengthens Poland’s position on the European transport map but also enhances cross-border connectivity and economic integration across Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2024, Centralny Port Komunikacyjny made significant strides in planning a modern, integrated transport system. With a state-of-the-art airport, high-speed rail, and road networks developing simultaneously, this ambitious investment is set to transform Poland’s connectivity, drive economic growth, and position the country as a major European transport hub.

Scheduled to open in 2032, CPK will serve as Poland’s new central airport. Strategically located at the heart of Central and Eastern Europe, CPK will be a major global transfer hub, offering optimized flight routes, shorter transfers, and multimodal integration for seamless travel between Polish cities, European capitals, and beyond.

Source, photo: Centralny Port Komunikacyjny

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