PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA signed a contract on March 7, 2024 for the modernization of the fourth section of the railroad line number 104 Chabówka – Nowy Sącz. In 2026, trains will travel on the new track between Limanowa and the Klęczany siding. The new tunnel planned as part of the investment will shorten train travel time to Nowy Sącz
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA signed a contract on March 7, 2024 for the modernization of the fourth section of the railroad line number 104 Chabówka – Nowy Sącz. In 2026, trains will travel on the new track between Limanowa and the Klęczany siding. The new tunnel planned as part of the investment will shorten train travel time to Nowy Sącz.
Today we are at a very important moment for the functioning of Polish infrastructure, an important part of which is the development of railroad lines and connections. This will be a revolution for connections between Krakow and Nowy Sącz. This investment is part of a larger project that will not only shorten travel time and make these connections efficient, but will significantly increase the room for maneuver for carriers, for agglomeration traffic, so that it will finally be possible to get from Krakow to Nowy Sącz and from Nowy Sącz to Krakow in 60 minutes. This is great news for all those who want to move between the two cities, seeing their opportunity in rail transportation. The longest tunnel in Poland will be built here, not only by rail, but also in relation to road tunnels. We have a historic investment ahead of us. I, for one, look forward with great hope to the launch and completion of this project, as it will set an example for investments across the country,” said Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure.
The task contractor will have 31 months to complete the work included in the contract. The tracks will largely be routed in a new track, including a railroad tunnel, which will shorten travel time on this route. PLK SA also signed contracts for investor supervision of this and two other sections of the modernized railroad line No. 104 (Limanowa station and Rabka Zaryte – Mszana Dolna).
We are going into new tracks, we are going into serious straightening of something that is already out of step with the new conditions. Moving at 60 km/h is not something that passengers or carriers are interested in. We are very much interfering with this investment – an element of the Kraków-Nowy Sącz connection – with what was built almost 150 years ago. Looking at the whole thing, figuratively it can be shortened to one sentence: from Krakow to Nowy Sącz not in three hours, but in one hour in the perspective of the next few years. A new quality is needed on the railroad,” said Piotr Malepszak, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure.On the Limanowa – Klêczany siding section, a track more than 12.5 km long will be modernized and electrified. Between the villages of Męcina and Mordarka, a 3.6 km long tunnel will be excavated. As part of the investment, a new stop will be built in Mordarka, a new platform will also be built in Chomranice, and the station in Męcina will be built in a new location. The platforms will be fully accessible for people with limited mobility. The existing route of the railroad line is to be developed by local governments.
“Podłęże – Piekiełko” is an investment that residents of southern Małopolska have been waiting for for years. The implementation of this project will increase the competitiveness of the railroad and contribute to the economic development of the region,” said Piotr Wyborski, acting CEO of PKP Polskie Linii Kolejowe SA.
An important component of the project is the reconstruction of engineering structures. The work will include 10 overpasses and 12 bridges. Rail-road crossings will be replaced with collision-free intersections. New roads will lead to them. Safety in local traffic will be improved. Thanks to the investment, passenger trains will be able to travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h, and freight trains at 100 km/h. Railroad capacity in the region will increase.
Construction work is currently underway on three other sections of the 104 railroad line (siding Klęczany – Nowy Sącz, Chabówka – Rabka Zaryte, Rabka Zaryte – Mszana Dolna). PLK SA is also conducting tender proceedings for the reconstruction of Limanowa station. The modernization of the Chabówka – Nowy Sącz section is part of a larger undertaking by the rail infrastructure manager with the acronym “Podłęże – Piekiełko”. PLK SA’s investment, in addition to the modernization and electrification of the 75 km Chabówka – Nowy Sącz route, will also include the construction of 58 km of new line, connecting Podłęże with Tymbark and Mszana Dolna. This will create a new railroad line that will connect Krakow with Podhale and Sącz region by 2029. The fastest trains will travel the Krakow – Nowy Sącz route in about 60 minutes. On the other hand, a trip from the capital of Malopolska to Zakopane will take about 90 minutes.
Source: PAP Media-Room
