Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has received another permit to move ahead with the building of a new high-speed rail tunnel in the city of Łódź, which is set to be the largest underground railway tunnel to date in Poland.

The permit, which allows for the main excavation of the project’s 4-kilometre, 14-metre wide tunnel beneath the city centre, will allow CPK to announce an upcoming tender for the task ahead.

Current works on the project are being supervised by DTŚ as contract engineer© Centralny Port Komunikacyjny

Foundation strengthening of the Łódź Cultural Centre (ŁDK) has been underway since September of 2023, thus far focusing predominantly on the western side of the Łódź Fabryczna railway station.

Radosław Kantak, CPK’s Board Member for Rail Investments, said:

“At the high-speed rail tunnel in Łódź, work is progressing consistently and on schedule.

“The technologies we are using will minimise the overall impact of construction on residents.”

The contract, which is being carried out by Keller Polska, is valued at over 93 million PLN, will also see the construction of a new cable duct, the reconstruction of heat, water and technical connections and the implementation of an electrical power grid.

A launching chamber is set to be built near the Retkinia housing estate, with work on the excavation chamber for the project’s automated tunnelling shield (TBM), located on the western side of the Łódź Fabryczna railway station will commence shortly after the strengthening of the ŁDK foundations.

The project includes the construction of a high-speed railway line from Warsaw to Łódź, Wrocław and Poznań, an expansion of the A2 motorway, and construction of a brand new airport for the region. In total, CPK has invested in the construction of a total of 219-kilometres of new railway lines, with the modernisation of 305-kilometres of existing rail routes set to be carried out by PKP PLK.