Further support from EIB for modernisation of Polish railways

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 40 million to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. (PLK) for the upgrading of rail track and the signalling system in East Poland. This is a continuation of the EIB’s successful cooperation with PLK. Including the current loan, the Bank has provided loans to PLK totalling EUR 1.42 billion to finance railway modernisation projects across Poland.

Thanks to the EIB loan, track and platforms at three railway stations between Warsaw and the Belorussian border (Siedlce, Lukow and Miedzyrzec Podlaski) will be modernised. Furthermore, the signalling system on 78 km of double track mainline in the section between Siedlce and Biala Podlaska will be improved. Modernisation works are due to begin in 2013 and will continue until the end of 2015.

The project will result in infrastructure maintenance savings and the reduction of vehicle operating costs and journey times – the modernised line will allow for the introduction of trains running at a maximum speed of 160 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains. This should encourage the shift from other modes of transport.

The EIB promotes environmentally sustainable transport solutions. Accordingly, the project will not only improve the quality of rail services, but also provide additional environmental mitigation measures (e.g. noise barriers, better drainage), which will reduce existing negative impacts during operation. In addition, the safety of the line will increase, as 33 level crossings will be improved.