This represents a pivotal component of the strategically designed "Y"-shaped rail network, which, by the year 2035, is scheduled to establish seamless connectivity between the capital and prominent economic and cultural hubs such as Łódź, Wrocław, and Poznań.
The four applications submitted by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) cover sections of the planned high-speed rail line running through Warsaw and the Mazovian municipalities of Ożarów Mazowiecki, Pruszków, Brwinów, and Wiskitki, totalling over 20 kilometres. For the full 140-kilometre Warsaw– Łódź route, which is in advanced design, CPK has already secured all necessary environmental approvals and two of the required water permits. Following the granting of planning permission, CPK intends to submit building permit applications later this year, with construction tenders to follow. Twelve location decision applications are planned for the Warsaw- Łódź section.
"In the fourth quarter of this year, we plan to submit the remaining eight applications, including those to the Łódź Voivode for the section between CPK Airport and Łódź. The Warsaw- Łódź HSR line is a priority for us, as it will connect the CPK Airport to the high-speed rail network," said Filip Czernicki, CEO of CPK.
CPK has also recently signed a contract for the construction of HSR tunnel in Łódź. The 4.6 km long, 14-metre wide tunnel will be constructed by the company PORR. This project is valued at approximately €500 million (gross).
The construction of the Warsaw– Łódź HSR line will reduce travel time between these cities to approximately 40 minutes, down from the current 70 minutes. Passengers will be able to reach CPK Airport from Warsaw in under 20 minutes. Once the entire "Y" line is completed, rail travel from Poznań to Warsaw will take less than 1 hour and 40 minutes (instead of about 2 hours and 20 minutes), and the same from Wrocław – cutting travel time by more than half.
According to the updated schedule, the CPK Airport is set to be operational by late 2032, alongside the Warsaw– Łódź HSR section. The remaining HSR sections from Łódź through Sieradz to Wrocław and Poznań are scheduled to open by the end of 2035. At that point, the entire 480-kilometre "Y" line will be complete – all of which is currently in the design and permitting phase. Construction is already underway on the long-distance CPK tunnel in Łódź.
