CPK signs contract for construction of HSR tunnel in Łódź
The contract for the construction of a 4.6 km long, 14-metre wide High-Speed Rail (HSR) tunnel will be carried out by construction company PORR. The project is valued at approximately PLN 2.2 billion (gross).
This investment is a key section of railway line no. 85 – the so-called “Y” line – which by 2032 will connect Warsaw and the CPK Airport with Łódź, and by 2035 will enable the launch of the fastest high-speed rail services to Wrocław and Poznań.
The CPK investment in Łódź, forming part of the “Y” line, will also be part of the trans-European North Sea–Baltic Sea corridor, designated by the European Union as part of the TEN-T transport network.
The long-distance tunnel in Łódź, a key part of the ‘Y’ line, will allow high-speed trains to pass under the city centre, ensuring fast connections between Warsaw, Sieradz, Wrocław and Poznań. The project is backed by solid economic and operational data and is closely coordinated with PKP PLK’s metropolitan tunnel, which will improve travel within the city,
The tunnel itself is essential for enabling high-speed rail connections from Łódź towards Poznań and Wrocław. It will be 14 metres in diameter and 4.6 kilometres long, making it the longest and widest rail tunnel in Poland to be constructed in a single section using a TBM (tunnel boring machine). Trains will pass through the city centre at depths of between 25 and 35 metres.
The HSR tunnel under Łódź is part of a new railway line which, like the entire CPK infrastructure, is built to dual-use standards – for both civilian and military purposes. The HSR lines, the CPK Airport, and the surrounding road network are all being constructed to safety standards set by the Polish government and the European Union. The CPK project will be a vital component of Poland’s resilience system in times of crisis,
PORR will have four years from the date of contract signing to complete the investment.
Construction will begin later this year. In the initial phase, the contractor will prepare the detailed execution design and set up the support infrastructure for the TBM. Works will commence in the “Retkinia” launch shaft and move towards the “Fabryczna” reception shaft, with actual tunnelling scheduled to start in Q4 of 2026.
PORR, with extensive tunnelling experience across Europe and around 7 km completed in Poland—including major projects in Lower Silesia and Świnoujście—is now taking on the technically demanding HSR tunnel in Łódź.
We’re honoured to lead the CPK tunnel project, one of unprecedented scale and complexity in Poland. Our experienced team is well-versed in advanced technologies and in delivering projects in dense, geologically challenging urban areas. I’m confident our expertise and commitment will ensure safe, efficient, and timely completion,
To reduce the impact of tunnelling on urban areas, geotechnical reinforcements and structural safeguards will be used to prevent ground settlement and ensure building stability. A geodetic monitoring system will track structural conditions throughout the works. At the same time, experts are assessing the technical condition of buildings along the route, with surveyors preparing full documentation on their load-bearing capacity, stability, and safety.
The CPK tunnel in Łódź is the second tunnel project in the city and it will mainly serve long-distance trains, particularly high-speed rail services.
CPK: A game-changer for Poland’s transport system
In 2024, CPK made historic progress in planning a modern, integrated transport system. With a state-of-the-art airport, high-speed rail, and road networks developing simultaneously this ambitious investment is set to transform Poland’s connectivity, drive economic growth, and position the country as a major European transport hub.
Scheduled to open in 2032 CPK will serve as Poland’s new central airport. The project also includes a high-speed rail network. Strategically located at the heart of Central and Eastern Europe CPK will be a major global transfer hub. Optimised flight routes, shorter transfers, and multimodal integration will ensure smooth connections between Polish cities, European capitals, and the rest of the world—making travel faster and more convenient than ever before.
