POLAND’s Ministry of Infrastructure has presented the Integrated Railway Network development plan, a long-term programme aimed at expanding and modernising the country’s railway network.

Prepared by Port Polska and infrastructure manager PKP PLK, the plan envisages the construction of 4700km of new lines, which includes the Port Polska project to develop new network of high-speed lines centred on a new airport west of Warsaw as well as 19 major trunk routes. In addition, 5600km of existing railway infrastructure is expected to undergo modernisation.

Under the programme, Poland plans to invest Zlotys 410bn ($US 108.66bn) in the construction of new railway lines and around Zlotys 200bn in upgrading existing infrastructure, according to government officials.

“The Integrated Railway Network is the first comprehensive railway construction and modernization plan in Poland’s history,” says deputy infrastructure minister, Maciej Lasek.

Lasek adds that the plan was developed based on passenger demand, traffic forecasts and planning analyses, and followed extensive consultations with regional authorities across Poland.

Piotr Malepszak, deputy infrastructure minister, says the programme will significantly reduce travel times between Poland’s largest cities, with journeys such as Warsaw - Gdansk expected to be shortened to around 1h 40min.

Malepszak also confirmed the government’s commitment to the previously announced “Poland 3 hours” principle, under which travel times across the country - including on major east-west and north-south routes - are expected to be reduced to approximately 3 hours.

The Integrated Railway Network plan is expected to provide 27 small and medium-sized towns with new rail connections, the ministry says. Among them, Jastrzębie-Zdrój, a city of around 80,000 residents, will be the largest urban area to regain or receive railway access.

During the presentation of the plan, government officials highlighted the importance of the Eastern Trunk Line, a key railway corridor expected to connect more than a dozen cities in eastern Poland, including Suwałki, Ełk, Białystok, Siedlce and Sokołów Podlaski.

“The Eastern Trunk Line is a network of connections that strengthens the transport cohesion of the entire macro-region,” says Port Polska’s press office in a statement.

For detailed data on Polish rail projects, subscribe to IRJ Pro.